In animal studies, copper deficiency has produced emphysema like changes in the lungs of rats, mice and pigs. Tap water with high copper levels is associated with improved lung function in humans. Perhaps a copper deficiency is a factor in human emphysema including the nonsmoking emphysema found frequently in Marfan syndrome. Desmosine is an amino acid specific to elastin. Desmosine content in urine is used to measure degradation of elastin content in the body.
Copper is one of the factors known to influence elastin.
Studies show Marfans have low desmosine content in their urine, providing another clue that perhaps copper may play a role in the syndrome. Premature babies at high risk for lung injuries often have low desmosine content in their urine. In the babies, the condition is thought to occur as a result of nutritional deficiencies. Perhaps a nutritional deficiency is also what causes the low desmosine content in Marfans. Only through inquiry can we discover the truth.