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Ceruloplasmin: The Missing Link Between Iron Overload, Oxidative Stress, and Autoimmune Disease (and How to Raise It Naturally)

  • Writer: Bowie Matteson
    Bowie Matteson
  • May 5
  • 4 min read

If you've ever felt like you're chasing symptoms without getting to the root, you're not alone. For many dealing with chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, or unexplained fatigue, the problem might not be too little iron—but iron in the wrong place. Enter ceruloplasmin: an overlooked copper-dependent protein that acts like your body's iron traffic controller, keeping iron safely in motion and protecting your tissues from oxidative stress. When ceruloplasmin is low, iron builds up in all the wrong places, triggering inflammation, damaging mitochondria, and overwhelming your immune system.


In this article, we’ll explore why ceruloplasmin is so essential—and how you can naturally support its production through diet, minerals, and liver-focused care. Whether you're managing type 1 diabetes, low ferritin, or autoimmune dysfunction, this might be the missing piece you've been searching for.


A ceruloplasmin molecule and its many constituents | Source: https://openi.nlm.nih.gov/
A ceruloplasmin molecule and its many constituents | Source: https://openi.nlm.nih.gov/

🔑 Why Ceruloplasmin Matters


Ceruloplasmin is a copper-dependent protein produced by the liver. It plays a critical role in:


  • Iron transport and mobilization: Moves iron safely out of storage and into circulation.

  • Antioxidant defense: Supports enzymes like Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) that neutralize harmful free radicals.

  • Mitochondrial and cellular health: Prevents unbound iron from driving oxidative damage in sensitive tissues.

  • Beta cell and immune protection: Regulates inflammatory load by balancing oxidative stress.

When ceruloplasmin is deficient, iron becomes trapped in tissues—contributing to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and autoimmune dysfunction. You can read more about how iron instigates chronic disease in my book An Ironclad Cause.


Ways to Support Ceruloplasmin


✅ 1. Support Bioavailable Copper Intake

Ceruloplasmin is fundamentally a copper enzyme. Without enough copper—or copper that’s bioavailable—it simply cannot be synthesized. But not all copper is created equal. Water pipes and synthetic supplements can deliver unbound copper, which burdens the body. Instead, focus on food-based and organ-based copper sources:


Top Copper-Rich Foods:

  • Beef liver (fresh or desiccated capsules)

  • Shiitake mushrooms

  • Cacao (100% dark chocolate, raw cacao powder)

  • Spirulina (only if iron is not elevated)

  • Copper bisglycinate (as a short-term supplement, 0.5–2 mg/day max)


⚠️ Note: Too much copper without balancing cofactors like retinol can disrupt zinc and iron metabolism. Which brings us to the next point…


✅ 2. Retinol: The Cofactor That Activates Copper

Retinol (true vitamin A from animal sources) is essential for incorporating copper into ceruloplasmin. Without it, copper can't be properly utilized, even if it’s present.


Top Retinol Sources:

  • Cod liver oil (¼–½ tsp/day of Rosita or similar)

  • Pastured egg yolks

  • Grass-fed butter or ghee

  • Beef liver


🧠 Pro Tip: Many people with autoimmune disease or diabetes have impaired beta-carotene to retinol conversion, so plant-based vitamin A may not be enough.


✅ 3. Avoid Iron Overload and Fortified Iron Sources

Most people assume low ferritin means iron deficiency—but in many cases, it signals iron mismanagement due to low ceruloplasmin or inflammation. Unbound iron accumulates in tissues and fuels oxidative damage.


To reduce iron burden:

  • Avoid iron-fortified cereals, breads, and processed foods

  • Skip synthetic iron supplements unless lab-confirmed anemia

  • Use gentle iron regulators:

    • Lactoferrin

    • IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate)

    • Curcumin (anti-inflammatory and mild iron chelator)


🧠 Insight: Iron overload suppresses ceruloplasmin production by stressing the liver and overwhelming storage mechanisms. Clear the excess, and synthesis improves.


✅ 4. Balance Zinc with Copper

Zinc is essential, but chronic over-supplementation (especially >25 mg/day) can compete with copper for absorption. This leads to functional copper deficiency and lowers ceruloplasmin.


Smart strategies:

  • Pair 10–15 mg zinc with 1 mg copper

  • Rotate zinc and copper on different days if needed

  • Focus on whole food sources of both minerals when possible


✅ 5. Heal the Liver: Ceruloplasmin’s Birthplace

Ceruloplasmin is synthesized in the liver, making liver health absolutely essential.


Liver-Supporting Tools:

  • Dandelion root and milk thistle (gentle detox and bile support)

  • Artichoke leaf (promotes bile flow)

  • Castor oil packs (2–3x/week over liver)

  • Phosphatidylcholine or sunflower lecithin (for cell membrane repair)

  • Bitters before meals (orange peel, gentian, burdock)


🧠 Pro Tip: A sluggish liver = sluggish ceruloplasmin. Revitalize bile flow, reduce oxidative stress, and you restore copper metabolism.


✅ 6. Reduce Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Chronic inflammation downregulates the genes responsible for ceruloplasmin production. Addressing oxidative burden helps unlock this system.


Key anti-inflammatory allies:

  • Magnesium (glycinate or malate)

  • Omega-3s (from cod liver oil or sardines)

  • Bioflavonoid-rich vitamin C

  • Adaptogens (ashwagandha, rhodiola, astragalus)


🔄 Optional Bonus: Herbal + Ancestral Tools

  • Bone marrow broth – Supplies blood-building and mineral-rich factors

  • Schisandra or cordyceps – Adaptogens that support liver, spleen, and redox balance

  • Ashwagandha – Helps calm the HPA axis and prevent stress-driven mineral loss


🔚 Final Thoughts: Ceruloplasmin Is the Key to Iron Balance

Raising ceruloplasmin isn’t just about copper or iron—it’s about restoring whole-body coordination, from liver to immune system to mitochondrial defense. Whether you're managing type 1 diabetes, autoimmune symptoms, or chronic fatigue, this protein may be a missing link in your healing journey.


Support the root, and the branches follow. Let ceruloplasmin guide the way.



My Preferred Sources for Ceruloplasmin Tools:


💊 Interested in the supplements I use? 

Copper bisglycinate, magnesium bisglycinate, Vitamin E, Curcumin


Shilajit (copper, iron, and trace mineral rich), Vitamin E, Magnesium Complex, Vitamin C, Zinc + Copper


Ashwaghanda, Quercetin, Berberine, Turmeric, Magnesium bisglycinate, Cordyceps


Colostrum (rich in lactoferrin), Trace mineral drops, Icelandic Sea Salt (mineral rich), Schisandra berry powder


Microbiome Testing with Customized Probiotics and Supplement Stacks from Viome: http://viomehq.sjv.io/Jz1x1Q


Whole Food, non-GMO Meals from Splendid Spoon: http://slendidspoon.pxf.io/Xm10g5


Additional resources (nutrition guide, supplement guide, exercise) https://bowie1.gumroad.com

 
 
 

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