Determination of copper status by five biomarkers in serum of healthy women

Thilo Samson Chillon ¹, Max Tuchtenhagen ², Maria Schwarz ³

¹TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (CMR), Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Straße 3-4, Berlin D-10115, Germany.
²TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany.
³TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Department of Nutritional Physiology, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena 07743, Germany.
⁴Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (CMR), Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Straße 3-4, Berlin D-10115, Germany; Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Clinic of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Berlin D-10115, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany.
⁵Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Frohsinnstraße 12, Aschaffenburg D-63739, Germany.
⁶TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany.
⁷TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany; German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany.
⁸TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Department of Food Chemistry, Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany; Technische Universität Berlin, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Straße des 17. Juni 135, Berlin 10623, Germany.

⁰TraceAge-DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly, Potsdam-Berlin, Jena, Germany; Max Rubner Center for Cardiovascular Metabolic Renal Research (CMR), Institute for Experimental Endocrinology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Straße 3-4, Berlin D-10115, Germany.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology : Organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (gms) +

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April 5, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

New copper biomarkers, including CP oxidase activity and exchangeable copper, offer a more comprehensive assessment of copper status beyond traditional serum copper and ceruloplasmin (CP) levels. These emerging markers show distinct regulation, aiding in understanding copper metabolism.

Area Of Science

Biochemistry
Trace Element Metabolism

Background

Copper is an essential trace element vital for numerous physiological processes.
Disruptions in copper homeostasis are linked to various health conditions.
Accurate assessment of copper status requires reliable biomarkers beyond current standards.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate novel copper biomarkers: ceruloplasmin oxidase (CPO) activity, exchangeable copper (CuEXC), and labile copper.
To compare these emerging biomarkers with conventional markers: total serum copper and ceruloplasmin (CP).
To investigate the relationships and variability of these biomarkers in healthy women.

Main Methods

An observational study involving 110 healthy women.
Serum samples collected over 24 weeks.
Analysis of CPO activity, CuEXC, labile copper, total serum copper, and CP concentrations.

Main Results

Total serum copper and CP levels were within normal ranges.
CP, CPO activity, and total copper showed strong correlations.
Exchangeable copper (CuEXC) showed moderate correlation, while labile copper was unrelated to other parameters.

Conclusions

Non-CP-bound copper species (CuEXC, labile copper) are regulated differently from total and CP-bound copper.
These non-CP-bound copper pools represent promising complementary biomarkers.
They may enhance the clinical assessment of body copper status.

Keywords:

Trace element biomarker ceruloplasmin copper

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