Low Dietary Copper Increases Fecal Free Radical Production, Fecal Water Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Cytotoxicity in Healthy Men

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 133; no. 2; pp. 522 - 527
• Main Author: Davis, Cindy D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.02.2003; American Society for Nutritional Sciences; American Institute of Nutrition
• Subjects: Adult; adverse effects; alkaline phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase - metabolism; alkaline phosphatase activity; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; biomarkers; Body Water - metabolism; Cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - etiology; colorectal neoplasms; Copper; Copper - administration & dosage; Copper - deficiency; Cross-Over Studies; cytotoxicity; Diet; dietary minerals; fecal water; feces; Feces - chemistry; Feces - enzymology; free radical production; free radical scavengers; Free radicals; Free Radicals - metabolism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; hematology; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Medical sciences; men; Middle Aged; nutrient deficiencies; Nutrition; Risk Factors; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors; water content; free radical production; copper; alkaline phosphatase activity; fecal water; cytotoxicity; Human; Alkaline phosphatase; Enzyme; Phosphoric monoester hydrolases; Cytotoxicity; Esterases; Biosynthesis; Malignant tumor; Inorganic element; Free radical; Feeding; Colonic disease; Micronutrient; Enzymatic activity; Risk factor; Water content; Digestive diseases; Hydrolases; Intestinal disease; Colon; Feces; Copper; Restricted diet
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/133.2.522

One possible dietary factor that may increase susceptibility to colon cancer is inadequate copper intake. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of low and adequate copper intakes on copper nutriture and putative risk factors for colon cancer susceptibility in healthy men. Seventeen healthy free-living nonsmoking men aged 21–52 y completed a 13-wk controlled feeding study in a randomized crossover design. The basal diet contained 0.59 mg Cu/13.65 MJ. After a 1-wk equilibration period in which the men consumed the basal diet supplemented with 1.0 mg Cu/d, they were randomly assigned to receive either the basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 2 mg Cu/d for 6 wk. After the first dietary period, the men immediately began to consume the other level of Cu for the last 6 wk. They collected their feces during the equilibration period and during the last 2 wk of the two dietary periods for free radical and fecal water analysis. Low dietary copper significantly (P < 0.01) increased fecal free radical production and fecal water alkaline phosphatase activity. Low dietary copper significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased fecal water copper concentrations but did not affect fecal water volume, pH, iron or zinc concentrations. In contrast to the fecal analysis, hematological indicators of copper status were not significantly affected by the dietary treatments. These results suggest that low dietary copper adversely affects fecal free radical production and fecal water alkaline phosphatase activity, which are putative risk factors for colon cancer.