Trace Elements In Human Serum Research Articles

W172 Relationship between bivalent essential trace elements in human serum

W172 Relationship between bivalent essential trace elements in human serum

Study of chromium, selenium and bromine concentrations in blood serum of patients with parenteral nutrition treatment using total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis.

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF) was used to determine chromium, selenium and bromine concentrations in blood serum samples of 50 patients with parenteral nutrition treatment. The concentrations were measured two times, namely in the first day (I measurement) of the treatment and the seventh day (II measurement) after the chromium and selenium supplementation. For comparison purposes also serum samples of 50 patients without nutritional disorders, admitted to a planned surgical procedure to remove the gall bladder (cholecystectomy), were analyzed and treated as the control group. Descriptive statistics of measured concentrations of Cr, Se and Br both for the studied and control groups was determined. In order to check the effectiveness of Cr and Se supplementation, the results of the first and seventh day measurements for studied group were statistically compared with each other, with literature reference values and with the results of the control group (two-group comparison). These comparisons indicate the effectiveness of selenium supplementation in the applied treatment procedure. In the case of Cr and Br concentrations no statistically significant differences were observed. We conclude that monitoring of the concentration of the important trace elements in human serum should be standard procedure in parenteral nutrition treatment. In this monitoring the TXRF technique can be successfully used.

Development, validation and application of an ICP-MS/MS method to quantify minerals and (ultra-)trace elements in human serum

Multi-element determination in human samples is very challenging. Especially in human intervention studies sample volumes are often limited to a few microliters and due to the high number of samples a high-throughput is indispensable. Here, we present a state-of-the-art ICP-MS/MS-based method for the analysis of essential (trace) elements, namely Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Se and I, as well as food-relevant toxic elements such as As and Cd. The developed method was validated regarding linearity of the calibration curves, method LODs and LOQs, selectivity and trueness as well as precision. The established reliable method was applied to quantify the element serum concentrations of participants of a human intervention study (LeguAN). The participants received isocaloric diets, either rich in plant protein or in animal protein. While the serum concentrations of Mg and Mo increased in participants receiving the plant protein-based diet (above all legumes), the Se concentration in serum decreased. In contrast, the animal protein-based diet, rich in meat and dairy products, resulted in an increased Se concentration in serum.

Multielemental Analysis of Human Serum by Dynamic Reaction Cell–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

ABSTRACTThe selection of the most suitable dilution methods for determination of trace elements in human serum using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is reported. The trace elements were Al, V, Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, Tl, and Pb. The performance of various dilution methods was assessed by precision, linearity, detection limits, quantification limits, fortified recoveries, and the analysis of reference materials. The results demonstrate that diluted solution containing only nitric acid is most suitable for As, Cr, Mn, and Co in serum. Dilute solutions containing nitric acid and Triton X-100 were most appropriate for Cu, Zn, Cd, and Tl. The optimum conditions for Al, V, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Sn, and Pb used tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide, Triton X-100, and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.

Speciation of trace elements in human serum by micro anion exchange chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Speciation analysis of essential trace elements in human serum provides important information on nutritional status and homeostatic mechanisms regulating transport processes, acute phase reactions, and protection against oxidative damage. Anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) has proved to be a useful tool in speciation. Here we describe a fast method that can be applied to carry out the speciation of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in as little as 1 ml of serum. The method employs monolithic anion exchange micro columns installed on a tandem HPLC system coupled on-line with an ICP–MS detector. The chromatographic separation is similar to those reported previously but with considerable gain in terms of time and sample requirement. Reproducibility is acceptable for most species. Using our method, we were able to find species-specific differences between different commercially available trace element reference materials. Because the method chosen to collect blood might interfere with speciation, the proposed methodology was used to compare heparinized plasma, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma, and serum from adult healthy volunteers. As expected, EDTA strongly affects speciation analysis (especially for Fe and Zn), whereas changes due to the use of lithium–heparin (Li–He) as anticoagulant appear to be minimized.

Simultaneous measurement of the trace elements Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum and their reference ranges by ICP-MS.

The goal of this article was to establish reference ranges of the concentration of trace elements in human serum and to compare these results with those reported by other authors. We describe the sample preparation and measurement conditions that allow the rapid, precise, and accurate determination of Al, As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn in human serum samples (n = 110) by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Accuracy and precision were determined by analyzing three reconstituted reference serum samples by comparison with other methods and by the standard addition procedure. The advantages of the ICP-MS method include short time of analysis of the elements mentioned, low detection limit, high precision, and high accuracy. Disadventages include a high risk of contamination due to the presence of some of the elements of interest in the environment, the relatively delicate sample handling, and the high cost of the equipment.

Validation of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry technique (ICP-AES) for multi-element analysis of trace elements in human serum

The use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for the simultaneous determination of Al, B, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn in human serum in a clinical laboratory was validated. Samples were digested and then analysed using yttrium as an internal standard and a serum-matched calibration standard. The criteria used to assess the analytical performance of the ICP-AES were detection and quantification limits, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, interference from alkali and acid, trueness and precision. Detection limits were 0.002-0.003 micromol/L for Mn, Sr, Ba, and Cd; 0.014-0.07 micromol/L for Co, Zn, Fe, Be, Li, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Cr; and 0.2-0.9 micromol/L for B, Se, and Al. Trueness, as controlled by analysis of bovine serum certified reference material, was acceptable for Co, Cu, Se and Zn, while Fe was 5.1% and Mn 6.2% below the lowest limit of the certified material interval. We conclude that ICP-AES can be used for multi-element analysis of B, Ba, Cu, Fe, Li, Se, Sr and Zn in serum. Serum levels of Al, Be and Co were below the detection limits while serum levels of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were below the quantification limits of the ICP-AES. These trace metals cannot be analysed as routine by the ICP-AES. However, in cases of intoxication with elevated serum concentrations mean recovery of 100+/-10% was obtained at an addition of 2.22 micromol/L for Al, 0.11 micromol/L for Be, 0.03 micromol/L for Co, 0.39 micromol/L for Cr, 0.14 micromol/L for Ni, and 0.12 micromol/L for Pb.

Capabilities of fast protein liquid chromatography coupled to a double focusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for trace metal speciation in human serum

The analytical potential of fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) coupled with a double focusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (DF-ICP-MS) was evaluated for the multielemental speciation of trace elements in human serum. The separation of the main serum proteins was performed in a MonoQ (HR5/5) anion exchange column using an ammonium acetate gradient (0-0.5 mol l –1 ) at the physiological pH of 7.4 (0.05 mol l –1 TRIS-HCl buffer) as the mobile phase. Proteins were first detected on-line spectrophotometrically at 295 nm and specific detection of metals was also carried out on-line by using a double focusing ICP-MS working at both low (m/Δm=300) and medium resolution (m/Δm=3000) in order to avoid possible polyatomic interferences. The use of variable resolution to carry out multielement speciation studies allowed the detection of Ca, Sr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Cr, Pb, Al and Sn in different serum samples and introduces a new dimension to this area of investigation. From the multielemental study it was observed that detectable levels of Cr, Al, Pb and Sn were present in uraemic sera while those elements could not be detected in healthy subjects.

Determination of trace elements in human serum by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry with flow injection

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of some trace elements (Au, Fe, Mg, Li, Sr, Zn) in human serum by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with flow injection is described. Physical interference caused by the change of sample viscosity is discussed. When 100 μl of serum was injected, the relevant recoveries of > 99% for Li, > 98% for Cu and Mg, > 95% for Fe were obtained for an NIST SRM with R.S.D. > 1.3% using optimized flow injection parameters. The prepared lyophilized control serum for routine analysis in clinical laboratories was analyzed and verified for the validity of the technique employed in this experiment using NIST SRM 909 as a primary reference material.

Determination of trace elements in human serum by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

The determination of trace and ultratrace elements in human serum by ICP-MS is described. The accuracy of the method is tested using a "second generation" human serum reference material. Elements determined include Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, and Cs. The method is compared to nuclear analytical methods (NAA, PIXE). Perspectives for the future are also discussed.

Biological reference materials from the US National Bureau of Standards — An update

This paper provides an update covering the change in availability of NBS Biological Reference Materials between the First and the Second Symposium on Biological Reference Materials. In the intervening 30-month period, 15 new reference materials of biological interest have been issued by NBS and 8 more are being prepared. Newly issued reference materials that are described include: corn kernel, corn stalk, lead in blood, trace elements in human serum, inorganic constituents in bovine serum, PCB's in human serum, blood gases, toxic elements in urine, dioxin in isooctane, ethanolwater solutions, chlorinated pesticides and chlorinated biphenyls in isooctane.

Determination of Major, Minor, and Trace Elements in Human Serum by Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy

An evaluation of two methods of sample preparation for human serum and two methods of calibration for inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy is made statistically for 10 elements. Digestion of 1 mL of serum in nitric-perchloric acids was found to be more reliable than a 10-fold dilution of the sample. With acid digestion, aqueous calibration standards are sufficient and standard addition is unnecessary. Only Ca, Na, Mg, P, and Sr can be determined reliably with the dilution approach. The relative standard deviations ranged between 0.7 and 6% for ICP-AES analysis with 0.75 mL sample injections.

Determination of trace elements in human serum by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence

A system of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) has been described to measure the concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, bromine, selenium and arsenic in human serum of healthy adults. Methods of sample preparations, standardization, and analysis have been presented. Data have been presented to show the accuracy, precision and sensitivity of the EDXRF system. The major advantages of using this system for the determination of trace elements in biological tissues are the relatively small sample size, ease of sample preparation, and the ability to perform rapid multi-element analysis on a single sample. The need for multi-element analysis has become apparent from the increased knowledge of trace element interactions in biological systems. The EDXRF system provides a solution for this need. Although the present system was applied only to the measurement of six elements, in principle the concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Ni and Ti could also be routinely determined with improvements in technology and sensitivity.

PIXE analysis of human serum - A preliminary study of the correlation between trace elements in human serum and the “Deficiency Syndrome Complex” theory of traditional Chinese medicine

To be able to study the correlation between trace elements and the “Deficiency Syndrome Complex” theory of traditional Chinese medicine, we have used a completely automated PIXE analysis system to determine the trace element concentrations in human serum. The experimental results show a marked correlation between the concentrations of trace elements in serum and the two types of patients with the “Deficiency Syndrome Complex”.