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Evaluation of the operationally defined soluble, insoluble, and complexing copper consumed through drinking water in human saliva

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Abstract

Previous studies suggest that different copper species formed in saliva have different reactivity in chemical reactions that may be associated with perception of metallic sensation occurring in the oral cavity. This study was performed to understand copper speciation in human saliva, which will help to understand the perception mechanism of metallic taste. Saliva samples were treated with CuSO4·5H2O at the levels of 0, 2.5, 10, 20, or 40 mg/L as Cu in vitro. Also saliva is collected before and after drinking 20 mL of 0, 2.5, and 5 mg/L copper in water (in vivo treatment). Copper speciation was operationally determined based on apparent molecular size using ultrafiltration coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. For in vitro copper treatment, 50–70% of copper was soluble at Cu ≤ 10 mg/L, whereas 60–70% of copper was in complex or insoluble form at Cu > 20 mg/L. For in vivo copper treatment, 90–95% of copper was soluble in saliva. These results suggest that copper is in the soluble unbound form in saliva at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, copper either becomes insoluble or binds with salivary components.

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Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0329474. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors thank Mr. Jeffrey Parks in Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for ICP-MS analysis of copper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Food Science, Kyungil University, 33 Buho-ri, Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 712-701, Korea

    Jae Hee Hong

  2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Susan E. Duncan & Sean F. O’Keefe

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Andrea M. Dietrich

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  1. Jae Hee Hong
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  2. Susan E. Duncan
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  4. Sean F. O’Keefe
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Correspondence to Jae Hee Hong.

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Hong, J.H., Duncan, S.E., Dietrich, A.M. et al. Evaluation of the operationally defined soluble, insoluble, and complexing copper consumed through drinking water in human saliva. Eur Food Res Technol 231, 977–984 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-010-1352-1

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