High-precision Cu isotopic analysis of human dietary Cu sources via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry

Kaj V Sullivan; Katharina Moser; Marta Costas-Rodríguez; Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez; Frank Vanhaecke

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142673

High-precision Cu isotopic analysis of human dietary Cu sources via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry

Food Chem. 2025 Apr 1:470:142673. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142673. Epub 2024 Dec 26.

Authors

Kaj V Sullivan¹, Katharina Moser², Marta Costas-Rodríguez³, Eduardo Bolea-Fernandez⁴, Frank Vanhaecke⁵

Affiliations

¹ Atomic and Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: kaj.sullivan@ugent.be.
² Atomic and Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
³ Atomic and Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Centro de Investigación Mariña, Departamento de Química Analítica y Alimentaria, Grupo QA2, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain. Electronic address: martacr@uvigo.gal.
⁴ Atomic and Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: ebolea@unizar.es.
⁵ Atomic and Mass Spectrometry - A&MS Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: frank.vanhaecke@ugent.be.

PMID: 39818116
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142673

Abstract

The disruption of Cu homeostasis is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases and can result in alterations in Cu isotope fractionation. Changes in the Cu isotope ratio (⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu) of body fluids and tissues have been observed in liver disorders, cancers, and other diseases, displaying diagnostic/prognostic potential. However, it is not entirely clear whether certain physiological or lifestyle factors may also influence the bodily Cu isotopic composition, potentially obfuscating the signature of the pathology. To ascertain whether differences exist between food products, the Cu isotopic composition of 29 significant dietary Cu sources has been determined for the first time. The general enrichment of Cu and its heavy isotope, ⁶⁵Cu, in legumes, nuts, and seeds (major Cu sources in plant-based diets) was revealed, suggesting that individuals with plant-based diets may have a bodily Cu isotopic composition offset from that of individuals with omnivorous diets, thus requiring controlling for in study design.

Keywords: Copper; Human diet; Isotope fractionation; MC-ICP-MS; Stable isotope ratio.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Copper* / analysis
Copper* / metabolism
Diet*
Fabaceae / chemistry
Fabaceae / metabolism
Humans
Isotopes / analysis
Mass Spectrometry*
Nuts / chemistry
Nuts / metabolism
Seeds / chemistry
Seeds / metabolism

Substances

Copper
Isotopes