Trace Element Concentrations In Blood Research Articles

Toxic Metal and Trace Element Concentrations in Blood and Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization in Women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of trace element and toxic metal concentrations in blood and the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The study included 104 consecutive patients that underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. The following parameters were determined: cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and lead (Pb); and copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and magnesium (Mg). Serum samples were obtained before commencing stimulation. Patients with smoking habit had significantly higher Pb concentrations (P = 0.022), as well as higher concentrations of As and Hg but not significantly. All subjects were divided into groups of pregnant and nonpregnant patients. Pregnant patients had lower mean values of Mg (P = 0.009), As (P < 0.05), and Pb (P = 0.034), compared to nonpregnant, and a significant correlation between pregnancy outcome and concentrations of Mg, Cd, and Pb was found. Women who had had delivered had lower Mg (P = 0.009) and Cd (P = 0.014) concentrations. There was a significant correlation of the negative outcome of IVF procedure with higher concentrations of Pb (P = 0.046) and Cd (P = 0.012). In conclusion, our results suggest that there is a difference in Mg, Pb, and Cd concentrations between pregnant and nonpregnant women. There was no association between toxic metals and number and quality of oocytes and embryos, while there was with fertilization rate. Concerning trace elements, we did not find the correlation of trace elements with oocyte number and quality, nor with a number of fertilized oocytes, except for Cu. Patients who were pregnant had lower concentrations of Mg.

Heavy metal and trace element concentrations in blood and follicular fluid affect ART outcome

ObjectivesTo assess the effects of heavy metal and trace element concentrations in blood and follicular fluid on assisted reproductive technology cycle outcome. Study designA prospective study was conducted between January 2012 and July 2012 in a university hospital infertility clinic. One hundred and one patients with unexplained infertility who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection using GnRH-antagonist protocol were recruited. Concentrations of four toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) and three trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe) were measured both in blood and follicular fluid specimens. Patients were evaluated in two groups; the study group consisted of patients with ongoing pregnancy (n=20) and the reference group consisted of patients experienced assisted reproductive technology failure, miscarriage or biochemical pregnancy (n=81). ResultsDemographics and cycle parameters were comparable between the groups except for median number of day 3 Grade A embryos. Statistically significant negative correlations were found between blood Pb levels and number of MII oocytes, implantation, clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates. Results of the log binomial regression revealed 2.2% lower risk for ongoing pregnancy for each 1μg/dL higher blood Pb concentration while holding the other variables in the model constant (RR 0.978; 95% CI 0.956–0.998; P=.041). Also, the results revealed 71.9% lower risk for ongoing pregnancy for each 1μg/dL higher follicular fluid Cu concentration while holding the other variables in the model constant (RR 0.288; 95% CI 0.085–0.92; P=.039). ConclusionBlood concentrations of Pb and follicular fluid concentrations of Cu seem to have significant impacts on assisted reproductive technology cycle outcome.

Changes in trace elements during lactation in a marine top predator, the grey seal

Lactation in pinnipeds represents the most significant cost to mothers during the reproductive cycle. Dynamics of trace elements and their mobilization associated with energy reserves during such an intense physiological process remains poorly understood in marine mammals. The changes in tissue concentrations of 11 elements (Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn) were investigated in a longitudinal study during the lactation period and during the post-weaning fast period. Blood, milk, blubber, and hair samples were collected sequentially from 21 mother–pup pairs of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) from the Isle of May in Scotland. Maternal transfer through the milk was observed for all trace elements, except for Cd. As an indicator of the placental transfer, levels in pup lanugo (natal coat) revealed also the existence of maternal transfer and accumulation of all assayed trace elements during the foetal development. The placental and mammary barriers against non-essential metal transfer to offspring appear to be absent or weak in grey seals. Examining the contamination levels showed that this grey seal population seems more highly exposed to Pb than other phocid populations (2.2mg/kg dw of grey seal hair). In contrast, blood and hair levels reflected a lower Hg exposure in grey seals from the Isle of May than in harbour seals from the southeastern North Sea. This study also showed that trace element concentrations in blood and blubber could change rapidly over the lactation period. Such physiological processes must be considered carefully during biomonitoring of trace elements, and potential impacts that rapid fluctuations in concentrations can exert on seal health should be further investigated.

Trace Element Concentrations in Blood of Nesting King Eiders in the Canadian Arctic

The king eider (Somateria spectabilis) is a migratory species of sea duck whose North American population is thought to be declining. We determined levels of cadmium, lead, selenium, and mercury in blood from female king eiders nesting in the central Canadian Arctic from 2001 to 2003. Year-to-year repeatability estimates were calculated from birds sampled in 2 or 3 years. Repeatability coefficients were 0.45, 0.35, 0.58, and 0.25 for cadmium, lead, selenium, and mercury, respectively. The first three were significantly different from zero (p < 0.05), whereas the last approached significance (0.05 < p < 0.1). In 2001 and 2002, we also identified probable wintering locations of a subset of the birds. In both years, cadmium levels were higher and selenium levels were lower in birds inferred to have wintered in the eastern part of their range compared to those that had wintered in the west. There was little evidence that timing of breeding, timing of sampling, or body condition were related to levels of these trace elements, although in 1 of 2 years, lead levels were influenced by body condition and nest initiation date (R(2) = 0.24) and cadmium levels were related to incubation day (partial R(2) = 0.04). Year-to-year repeatability of cadmium and selenium levels among individuals in this population of king eiders was likely influenced by where they wintered.

Trace element concentrations in blood of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus): Influence of age, sex and location

Trace element concentrations in blood of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus): Influence of age, sex and location

Resveratrol: Is There Any Effect on Healthy Subject?

This preliminary study was planned to investigate the effects of resveratrol on oxidative-nitrosative stress markers and on trace element concentrations in blood and on circulatory system parameters in rats. Twenty-five Sprague-Dawley male rats, 10-12 weeks old, with mean body weight of 295 g were used in the study. Administration of resveratrol (0.5 ml/day) was performed in experimental group in 10 days. In control (n = 10) and in experimental groups (n = 15), after 1 week training period, systolic arterial blood pressures and heart rates were recorded daily. At the end of the tenth day, blood samples of control and experimental groups were drawn. Total nitrite, nitrite, nitrate, malondialdehyde, copper, zinc concentrations in plasma, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities and copper, zinc concentrations in red cell were determined both in control and experimental groups. Alterations in oxidative and nitrosative stress markers, trace element concentrations, and circulatory system parameters in experimental group compared to controls were observed. The results of this study were discussed according to the effect of resveratrol.

Biomonitoring of 37 Trace Elements in Human Blood and Plasma From Inhabitants of Northern Germany By ICP-MS

P-145 Abstract: The trace elements Ag, As, Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cs, Cu, Ga, Hf, Hg, In, La, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Rb, Rh, Ru, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Tl, U, V, W, Y and Zr were determined in 130 human blood and plasma samples from occupationally non-exposed volunteers living in the greater area of Bremen in northern Germany. Information on exposure conditions of all human subjects were collected by questionnaire-based interviews, including smoking habits, seafood consumption and the type of dental alloys in the teeth. Statistical data (geometric mean values, selected percentiles, etc.) about the trace element concentrations are provided, intended to serve clinical chemists, toxicologists and epidemiologists planning and conducting research about exposition to metals or trace element deficiencies. The blood and plasma samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with an octopole based collision/reaction cell. Relevant spectral interferences could be avoided by addition of a few mL/min of helium or hydrogen to the cell. Prior to introduction into the ICP the samples were diluted 1/10 (V/V) with a 0.1% Triton-X-100 and 0.5% (V/V) ammonia solution. For internal quality assurance we have analysed control materials from several suppliers in different concentration levels. External quality assurance was performed by participation in 3 national and international quality assessment schemes. The limits of quantification (LOQ) calculated to the undiluted blood range from 0.003 μg/L for U to 0.1 μg/L for Ga. The geometric mean concentrations of the 37 elements in blood range from the LOQs in the lower ng/L—range up to 2369 μg/L for Rb. Essential trace element concentrations in blood are in a small range for Mn (4.8–18 μg/L), Cu (720–1800 μg/L) and Se (85–182 μg/L). Other essential trace elements concentration ranges are 12–195 μg/L for B, 0.04–0.8 μg/L for Co and 0.06–4 μg/L for Mo. Geometric mean concentrations of some toxic elements, such as Pb, Cd and Hg in blood are 19, 0,4 and 0,8 μg/L, respectively. For other toxic elements (Be, Th, U) or elements without a known biological function (Hf, Ce, La, Te, Ga) many of the concentrations in the real samples are below the LOQs. Differences between blood and plasma concentration levels of trace elements are also discussed.

Iron status influences trace element levels in human blood and serum

Food is the main source of trace elements for the general population. The gastrointestinal absorption of certain trace elements, e.g., cadmium, is strongly influenced by iron (Fe) status. This factor may also be relevant for the bioavailability of other trace elements. Therefore, we investigated relationships between Fe status indicators and trace element concentrations in blood and serum of 234 boys and girls at ages 15 and 17 years. Fe status was measured using serum ferritin (S-Ft), soluble transferrin receptor in serum (sTfR), and the ratio sTfR/S-Ft. The trace elements we investigated were, in blood, cadmium, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, rubidium, mercury, and lead, and, in serum, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, rubidium, tungsten, mercury, and lead. We found inverse correlations between Fe status and blood cadmium, blood or serum cobalt, or blood copper. There were positive correlations between Fe status and mercury concentrations. Selenium was positively correlated with sTfR. The relationships between Fe status and lead were equivocal. There were fewer correlations for serum than for blood, but the inverse relationships between Fe status and cobalt were equally strong in serum and blood. We found only occasional, and perhaps spurious, correlations with zinc, rubidium, and tungsten. In conclusion, previous indications that cadmium, cobalt, and copper are absorbed by transport mechanisms similar to that of Fe are supported by this study. Strong positive correlations between Fe status and mercury concentrations remain to be explained.

Trace elements in diabetes mellitus. Peculiarities and clinical validity of determinations in blood cells

Significantly more information about trace element status can be obtained by investigating concentrations in blood cells instead of only evaluating the concentrations in plasma. This can be explained by the fact that essential trace elements such as zinc, copper, chromium and selenium take part in a variety of enzymatic processes on a molecular cellular level. Ignoring these important biochemical roles, trace element concentrations determined in whole blood or plasma very often lead to conclusions contrary to the actual intracellular concentration. Especially in metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus, conclusions drawn from trace element concentrations in blood cells usually offer more valuable clinical information about the metabolic state than trace element concentrations in plasma or whole blood. In the present investigation copper and zinc concentrations were increased in all blood fractions of diabetic patients (IDDM). In insulin-dependent diabetic children significantly higher values of zinc in erythrocytes were also found, and they were higher in patients with poor metabolic control (HbA1c>9%). When different blood fractions in diabetic patients (NIDDM) were compared with a control group, chromium was significantly increased in plasma and polymorphonuclear cells. Patients with IDDM had pronounced decreased selenium concentrations in erythrocytes as compared to controls.

Case control study of diarrhoea and faecal soiling in two to six-month-old lambs

A case control study was nested within a longitudinal study of faecal soiling on eight commercial farms in the south west of England. Eighty-two incident cases of faecal soiling in...

Trace element concentrations in blood and hair of young apprentices of a technical-professional school

The concentrations of total Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Ca in the whole blood of young male apprentices of a technical-professional school, who are exposed to low doses of fumes from nanual metal arc welding of mild steel, were monitored over their 2 years of apprenticeship in order to evaluate the influence of occupational exposure on biological metal levels. The results were compared with those from a control group of the same sex and age and living in the same geographic area. For comparison, monitoring of the same metal levels in the hair of both groups of individuals were also carried out. In the apprentices, the mean metal concentrations in blood at the end of the study were statistically significantly higher for Cu, lower for Fe and Mn and similar for the remaining metals. The levels of Fe significantly decreased whereas the levels of Cu were significantly increased during the study. A systematic influence of the exposure period on the levels of Mn was not observed. All the metal concentrations measured in the blood and hair of both apprentices and controls fell in the very large range of published reference levels. Seasonal variation (higher levels in the summer) of the hair metal concentrations were observed for Mn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn and Ca.