Recently, one of the MAG-pies asked about PMS and what effect Copper and Zinc have on this monthly challenge. Here are my thoughts re that key issue…
Again, let’s make sure we understand the Copper/Zinc/Magnesium connection…What’s important to know is that Zinc in a woman’s body is a surrogate for Progesterone, and Copper is a surrogate for Estrogen. And as a woman’s cycle progresses, the Estrogen spike is followed by a spike in Progesterone.

When our “Mg Burn Rate” is escalated due to “Stress!” it depletes Zinc and Magnesium (along with our B-Vitamins!) Now, Zinc and Copper have a very delicate dance in the body, not unlike the Mg and Calcium dance. Because Zinc is so easily lost to “Stress!” it gives Copper the upper hand. That and the fact that it is easily supplied in our diet via Legumes, Chocolate, copper pipes bringing water into our homes, CuSO4 (Copper Sulfate) being sprayed on most conventional fruits and produce as an anti-fungal agent, etc.
Now, Copper, as we know, is an essential mineral (metal) for our body, but it MUST be attached to its partner protein, Ceruloplasmin, to be most effective. And the process of attaching Copper to that key protein requires three transactions that depend on adequate amounts of Mg-ATP being present… Hmmmm… So when we are “Stressed Out!” we know that the Mg is low, and thus the Mg-ATP is low, so then the binding of Copper slows down or stops. What’s important to understand is that “unbound” Copper is essentially a “Heavy Metal” in the body without its protein. This bio-unavailable form then collects in our Adrenals, our Liver and the Limbic region of our Brain. Why is that last point so important, from what I’ve read, as the spike moves from Estrogen to Progesterone dominance, this releases Copper in the brain and compounds the emotions during this point of the cycle.
So, yes, there is a Copper/Zinc dynamic, but once again, Maggie’s in the middle!… If you suffer from PMS, please take Mo’ Maggie. Also, you may enjoy this wonderful article written by Guy E. Abraham, MD and Ruth E. Rumley, MD explaining the dynamics of PMS and Magnesium deficiency. http://www.mgwater.com/gapmts.shtml

A votre sante!