I've been doing research on various vitamins and minerals and working to compile the data to share here. What I found on copper was quite surprising. What I have so far:
Copper
Copper is necessary for iron uptake, and a copper deficiency can result in iron deficiency. Copper deficiency can sometimes be caused by excessive zinc or iron supplementation and will often manifest at the same time as B12 deficiency[goto=2a][2][/goto].
Symptoms of Copper Deficiency: Tiredness, fatigue, light headedness, anemias including [wiki]leukopenia[/wiki] and [wiki]neutropenia[/wiki][goto=3a] [3][/goto], low hemoglobin due to enlarged red blood cells, myelopathy [goto=4a][4][/goto], peripheral neuropathy, optic neuropathy, difficulty walking, torso-based tremors, numbness, tingling, reduced reflexes, vision loss.
Anatomy of Absorption: The primary location of copper absorption in humans is not definitively known but it is thought to take place in the stomach and duodenum. Copper is stored in the liver. Ceruloplasmin (which plays a major part in iron metabolism) carries about 70% of the total copper in human plasma while albumin carries about 15%. Phytlates, fructose, and sucrose can inhibit absorption.
Recommended Daily Intake: In North America, the recommended intake of copper for healthy adult men and women is 900 micrograms/day (0.9 mg/day) with a maximum tolerable intake of 10 mg/day. Safe and acceptable daily intakes have been estimated from adult data and are as follows: 340 micrograms/day (0.34 mg/day) for children of 1–3 years; 440 micrograms/day (0.44 mg/day) for 4–8 years; 700 micrograms/day (0.7 mg/day) for 9–13 years; and 890 micrograms/day (0.89 mg/day) for 14–18 years. [goto=5a][5][/goto]
Natural Sources of Copper: Oysters and other shellfish, whole grains, beans, nuts, potatoes, organ meats (kidneys, liver), dark leafy greens, prunes, cocoa, black pepper, and yeast.