Scope

Copper supplementation in nutrition has evolved from using inorganic mineral salts to organically chelated minerals but with limited knowledge of the impact at the cellular level.

Methods

Here, the impact of inorganic and organic nutrient forms (glycinate, organic acid, and proteinate) of copper on the cellular level is investigated on intestinal cell lines, HT29 and Caco‐2, after a 2‐hr acute exposure to copper compounds and following a 10‐hr recovery.

Results

Following the 10‐hr recovery, increases were observed in proteins involved in metal binding (metallothioneins) and antioxidant response (sulfiredoxin 1 and heme oxygenase 1), and global proteomic analysis suggested recruitment of the unfolded protein response and proteosomal overloading. Copper organic acid chelate, the only treatment to show striking and sustained reactive oxygen species generation, had the greatest impact on ubiquitinated proteins, reduced autophagy, and increased aggresome formation, reducing growth in both cell lines. The least effect was noted in copper proteinate with negligible impact on aggresome formation or extended growth for either cell line.

Conclusion

The type and source of copper can impact significantly at the cellular level.