Copper absorption is improved when protein and vegetables are eaten. When copper is consumed, most of it is absorbed in the small intestine with a small amount absorbed in the stomach. Absorption occurs within 15 minutes and it is transferred across the gut wall by albumin into the liver where it is transformed into ceruloplasmin which is a copper protein complex. Ceruloplasmin is then released into the blood and it delivers copper to tissues throughout the body. Copper homeostasis is maintained by both the regulation of its absorption and by excreting it via bile in the gastrointestinal tract.
Copper has several important functions in the body.
It serves as a catalyst in the formation of hemoglobin even though hemoglobin doesn't actually contain copper. It is necessary for cell respiration because it is part of the cytochrome system. Copper as contained in the enzyme lysl oxidase is critical for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin which in turn are necessary for the creation of strong, flexible connective tissue. It therefore has a role in bone formation, skeletal mineralization and the integrity of the connective tissue in the cardiovascular system. Copper plays a part in iron metabolism, but the exact mechanism is unclear.