title: Use of mathematical modeling to study copper metabolism in humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An improved understanding of copper metabolism is needed to derive more precise estimates of dietary requirements.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to validate a method for estimating endogenous losses of copper, test whether a simple model can predict true absorption from the plasma appearance of labeled copper, and develop a compartmental model for copper metabolism by using stable isotopes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stable isotope of copper was intravenously administered to 6 men, and fecal samples were collected for 14 d. Four weeks later the study was repeated, but with an oral dose, and blood samples were collected for 7 d and fecal samples for 14 d.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference (P = 0.48) in the estimated endogenous loss of copper calculated by using either the excreted intravenous dose (x +/- SD: 32 +/- 5%) or the absorbed and excreted oral dose (35 +/- 2%). A simple mathematical model fitted to plasma isotope appearance data estimated true absorption to be 8 +/- 2% compared with 48-49% measured by fecal monitoring. A more complicated compartmental model predicted that, when newly absorbed copper first enters the blood, 74% is removed by the liver and 99% is bound to ceruloplasmin in the plasma. The exchangeable pool of copper was estimated to be 43 +/- 30 mg. Daily endogenous losses were predicted to be 2.4 mg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that fecal monitoring is the only method that can reliably measure labeled copper absorption, and it is not necessary to administer an intravenous dose of copper to estimate endogenous losses. The compartmental model provides new insights into human copper metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Jack R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dainty
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hollands
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Bull
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Tony I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Venelinov
authors.forename: Jurian A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hoogewerff
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fairweather-Tait
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D003300:Copper