SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Trace Elements”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Trace element intake and status of Italian subjects living in the Gubbio area.

Daily intakes of certain trace elements (Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Cr) were assessed using dietary history and weighed record methods and concurrent chemical analysis (CA) of duplicate portions, along with blood levels, in a group (21 M, 23 F) of inhabitants of the Gubbio area (Belvedere, Biscina, Scritto). The evaluation of only intake of trace elements was accomplished in 40 subjects (20 M, 20 F) 1 year later. In both surveys, trace element intakes were generally lower than the potential tolerable weekly intake. However, daily intakes of Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, and Cr were higher in men compared to women in both surveys (P<0.05). In fact, intakes at the 50th percentile were greater in men by approximately 75% for Pb, 91% for Cd, 20% for Ni, 45% for Hg, and 29% for Cr in the first survey. In the second survey, percentage differences for Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr were about 12%, 28%, 26%, and 26%, respectively. Blood trace element levels were slightly higher in men in the first survey. Interestingly, no correlation was observed between the intake of trace elements and corresponding blood values. Food basket and total diet, which were computed from the weighed record method for 2 days, showed relevant disagreements with CA of duplicate portion. Moreover, the comparison in content of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr obtained by CA of cooked dishes or by calculation using values of raw foods showed significant differences (P<0.05). It was concluded that trace element intake should be assessed by CA of duplicate portion.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effect of microbial activity on trace element release from sewage sludge.

The microbial role in mobilization of trace elements from land-applied wastewater sludge is not well-defined. Our study examined the leachability of trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, S, and Zn) from dewatered sludge as affected by treatments designed to alter microbial activity. Different levels of microbial activity were achieved by incubating sludge columns at 4, 16, 28, and 37 degrees C and by the addition of AgNO3 biocide at each temperature. Columns (with inert glass bead support beds) were subjected to six consecutive incubation-leaching cycles, each consisting of 7.3-d incubation followed by 16-h leaching with synthetic acid rain. Glucose mineralization tests were used to assess overall microbial activity. Significant acidification and trace element leaching occurred when conditions favored microbial activity (16 and 28 degrees C). Extent of mobilization was element-specific with Zn, Ni, and Cu showing the greatest mobilization (99, 67, and 57%, respectively). Mobilization was reduced but still substantial at 4 degrees C. Conditions that best inhibited microbial activity (37 degrees C or biocide at any temperature) resulted in the least mobilization. Characterization of enrichments performed using thiosulfate as the sole energy source revealed the presence of both known and putative S-oxidizing bacteria in the sludge. The results suggest that microbial acidification via S oxidation can mobilize trace elements from sludge. Elemental mobility in field situations would also be governed by other factors, including the capacity of soil to buffer acidification and to adsorb mobilized elements.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dissolution of trace element contaminants from two coastal plain soils as affected by pH.

Trace element mobility in soils depends on contaminant concentration, chemical speciation, water movement, and soil matrix properties such as mineralogy, pH, and redox potential. Our objective was to characterize trace element dissolution in response to acidification of soil samples from two abandoned incinerators in the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Trace element concentrations in 11 soil samples from both sites ranged from 2 to 46 mg Cu kg(-1), 3 to 105 mg Pb kg(-1), 1 to 102 mg Zn kg(-1), 3 to 11 mg Cr kg(-1), < 0.1 to 10 mg As kg(-1), and < 0.01 to 0.9 mg Cd kg(-1). Acidified CaCl2 solutions were passed through soil columns to bring the effluent solution to approximately pH 4 during a 280-h flow period. Maximum concentrations of dissolved Cu, Pb, and Zn at the lowest pH of an experiment (pH 3.8-4.1) were 0.32 mg Cu L(-1), 0.11 mg Pb L(-1), and 1.3 mg Zn L(-1) for samples from the site with well-drained soils, and 0.25 mg Cu L(-1), 1.2 mg Pb L(-1), and 1.4 mg Zn L(-1) for samples from the site with more poorly drained soils. Dissolved Cu concentration at pH 4 increased linearly with increasing soil Cu concentration, but no such relationship was found for Zn. Dissolved concentrations of other trace elements were below our analytical detection limits. Synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy showed that Cr and As were in their less mobile Cr(III) and As(V) oxidation states. XANES analysis of Cu and Zn on selected samples indicated an association of Cu(II) with soil organic matter and Zn(II) with Al- and Fe-oxides or franklinite.

Environmental Monitoring↗

PubMed1981

Soil as the source of trace elements.

The nature of the parent rock determines the trace element content of soils. Ultrabasic and basic rocks, which solidified first from the molten magma, incorporated bioessential trace elements such as Co, Ni, Zn and Cr by isomorphous replacement of Fe and Mg in ferromagnesian minerals, while acidic rocks, the last to solidify, tended to be richer in other elements such as Ba and Pb. Cu, Mn and, to a lesser extent, B, Mo and Se are more evenly distributed. The weathering of rocks by pedological and biological processes such as glacial and hydrodynamic comminution, secretion of acids and liganding species by microbes and plants leads to the formation of sands, silts and clays, and finally the incorporation of organic matter causes humification and the formation of soils as we know them. Part of the soil's store of bioessential elements is held in forms that are available to plants. Availability is controlled by the forms of occurrence and the nature of binding of the trace elements in the soil, which in turn is affected by soil acidity, redox balance (drainage) and organic matter content. These and other factors are discussed along with measures for alleviation of deficiency problems. Future progress in this area will depend to a large extent on interdisciplinary research by biologists, chemists, physicists and statisticians.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2002

Using trace elements in skin to discriminate the populations of minke whales in southern hemisphere.

Concentrations of 12 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Ba, and Hg) were determined in liver and skin tissues of minke whales from various regions within the Antarctic Ocean. Cd concentrations in livers of southern minke whale were apparently higher than those in cetaceans from other regions, while Hg concentrations were lower. There were significant positive correlations between body length and concentrations of Cd and Hg in the liver. The concentrations of all trace elements in the skin were lower than those in other cetaceans reported previously. Significant positive correlations between liver and skin were found for Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Rb, Cd, and Cs, implying that the concentrations of these trace elements in the skin reflect those of internal organs. Large interannual variation of the accumulation pattern of trace elements in the skin was observed for the southern minke whales from Area V. There were significant differences in the skin element concentrations among Areas III, IV, and V, especially for males. Also, discriminant analysis between geographically two different groups collected during 1995/1996 austral summer season, based on the concentrations of trace elements in the skin, allowed for a correct classification of 90% of these minke whales. These results suggest that measurement of trace elements in skin samples could provide valuable information on the status of contamination and possible geographic differences in the accumulation levels in southern minke whales.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Levels, distribution and chemical forms of trace elements in food plants.

The content of trace elements in plants can vary widely, depending upon the composition of the soil in which they grow, other environmental factors, and the species or cultivar of the plant. A high growth rate of the plant may cause internal 'dilution' of trace elements. Complex formation with soil organic colloids and compounds, cell wall material and ligands in and inside the cell membranes are of critical importance in uptake, though most evidence shows that it is the free metal ion in the external solution that is absorbed; the detailed mechanisms are still unknown. Other processes such as excretion of organic compounds, reductants and hydrogen ions from the root greatly alter availability of trace metals, and iron has to be reduced to the ferrous form before uptake. The mean composition of plant shoots is affected by age and season; element mobility in the xylem and phloem determines translocation, and hence concentrations in individual parts of the plant. The rate of retranslocation can be strongly affected by the abundance of the element. Symptoms of deficiency or excess are well documented, but are often not dependable. The essentiality of the trace metals depends upon their function as part of enzymes, and these are briefly reviewed, with stress on processes in plants. Only a small fraction of the total amount of an element is bound in the enzyme; of the remainder, some is present as the free metal ion (Mn) or as complexes of small molecular mass (Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe), the rest being bound to cell wall material. Certain species or genotypes have resistance against high levels of some elements in the soil. Several mechanisms may be involved, one being very strong binding to root cell walls. There are also large genetic differences in susceptibility to trace element deficiencies.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Maintenance of vitamin and trace element status in intravenous nutrition using a complete nutritive mixture.

Complete nutritive mixtures (CNM) of all intravenous nutrients including fat emulsions are being used increasingly because of their convenience. However, this may lead to chemical interactions and reduce the amount of active vitamins and trace elements made available to the patient. We have studied the effects on micronutrient status of provision of all nutrients in one 3-liter bag (CNM: amino acids, dextrose, Intralipid 20%, a nine-element trace metal mixture, and complete fat- and water-soluble vitamin mixtures) in 10 postoperative surgical patients [median intravenous nutrition (IVN) 14.5 days, range 7-38]. A similar group received the fat emulsion plus water- and fat-soluble vitamins as a separate infusion (SI) from a 3-liter bag (median IVN 14.0 days, range 8-28). Serum and urine magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, and selenium, serum vitamins A, E, C, folate, and B12, RBC B1, B2 B6, and folate and leukocyte vitamin C were measured at weekly intervals. All patients in both groups maintained or improved their status for all the micronutrients analyzed. No significant differences between the CNM and SI groups were found in blood concentrations of any of the elements or vitamins. Only for urine copper did the CNM lead to increased excretion (1.51 +/- 0.59 mumol/24 hr; copper input 20 mumol/day), compared to SI (1.00 +/- 0.70 mumol/day, p less than 0.001 Mann-Whitney test) suggesting possible interaction. It is concluded that micronutrient status was maintained during short-term IVN with the CNM and that it did not lead to a significantly greater loss of vitamins or essential trace elements than the SI system.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Trace element biology: the knowledge base and its application for the nutrition of individuals and populations.

Impressive strides are being made in the understanding of trace element metabolism and function. This is underscored by the many contributions in these proceedings. However, not so impressive are: i) the precise recognition of mild trace element deficiencies and how to establish their functional consequences, possibly confounded by concurrent trace element inadequacies, are difficult to assess, ii) approaches to the quantitative determination of requirements for trace elements remain unsatisfactory and archaic, in so many ways, iii) our understanding of the extent of the biological basis for the variation in requirements among apparently similar individuals is poor, and iv) much needs to be learned about the quantitative extent to which genetic, epigenetic and dietary factors interact to determine the nutritional phenotype. Some ideas are presented as to how we might embrace, in the context of a reconstructive approach, the exciting new knowledge and related techniques emerging during the postgenome era and develop new paradigms for assessing trace element needs and status, and for establishing effective nutrient intake under different conditions of complex genotype-environment interactions. Metabolites are functional cellular entities and I also urge a vigorous application of metabolomics and of metabolic profiling that is closely linked with genomics, proteomics, trace element kinetics and system analysis, as components of the new integrative paradigm. We need to understand the system and its strategy, not only the molecular details of its component parts and its individual controls. An interdisciplinary research and teaching enterprise will be necessary to best achieve this aim. All of this is related to our common goal to promote, through expanded biological knowledge and its effective application, the enhanced role of trace elements for human well-being.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Interactions between trace elements and alcohol in rats.

Interactions between ethanol and trace elements are reviewed at two levels. The first concerns the effect of alcohol on the concentration and distribution of certain trace metals in the body; changes are described for copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc. The second relates to the possible protection afforded by some trace elements against alcohol-related damage. The significance of maternal zinc to the fetal alcohol syndrome is discussed in the light of evidence that pregnancy outcome in rats after gestational alcoholism is less favourable in zinc-deficient dams than in nutritionally replete animals. Cellular metabolism of ethanol may lead to the generation of damaging superoxide and hydroxyl radicals; several trace elements, notably zinc, manganese, selenium and copper, may function protectively as free radical scavengers and as antioxidants. Evidence is presented of increased lipid peroxidation in zinc-deficient tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats and of enhanced activity of Mn-superoxide dismutase in fetal and adults rats exposed to ethanol.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

[Effects of surgical complications on trace element metabolism in patients with cardio-esophageal and esophageal cancer].

The homeostatic features of trace elements were studied in 48 patients with cardio-esophageal and esophageal carcinoma in development of incompetence of the anastomosis sutures (17), peritonitis (19), and intestinal fistulas (12). The level of the trace elements was determined in the red cells, blood plasma, and urine by emission plasma spectrometry. With the development of surgical complications after operation on the stomach and esophagus, the metabolism of trace elements was sharply disturbed, catabolic processes prevailed and were manifested by the escape of essential trace elements from the cells and their excretion in the urine. The changes of trace elements metabolism were more profound in peritonitis and intestinal fistulas. Complex intensive therapy including artificial feeding corrected partly the metabolic disorders.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

Review of trace elements in blood, serum and urine for the Czech and Slovak populations and critical evaluation of their possible use as reference values.

The availability of accurate trace element reference values in human tissues represents an important indicator to the health status of the general population and occupational groups exposed to trace elements. The EURO TERVIHT project (Trace Element Reference Values in Human Tissues) aims to establish and compare trace element reference values in tissues from inhabitants of the European countries as baseline values for clinical/toxicological assessment studies. In this context, one of the first steps considered is the critical evaluation (state of the art) of existing literature on trace element reference values in blood, serum and urine in the general population of each European country. This paper reviews the Czech and Slovak situation by assessing studies carried out in these countries for Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Mn, Hg, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sc, Se, V and Zn in blood, serum and urine. These studies show that most of the data available do not meet criteria designed recently for deriving reference intervals, especially regarding the number of subjects, the age of population sample studies as well as the use of appropriate sampling techniques and quality assurance procedures. Elements which present the highest potential risk for health in Czech and Slovak populations and for which reference values should be urgently established are: Cd, Hg, Pb (major pollutants); As, Cr, Ni (carcinogenic metals); Al, F, Mn, Tl, V (released into the environment by coal combustion and other industrial activities); Pt (increasing use of Pt catalyst in petrol-driven automobiles); essential trace elements such as I, Se and Zn for which a deficiency in Czech and Slovak populations was detected or is suspected.

Czechoslovakia↗

PubMed2003

[Analysis and discuss of trace elements in the teeth].

OBJECTIVE: Through the analysis and discussion of some trace elements in human's teeth, many related information were offered towards the researches and the cure in teeth diseases. METHODS: Using the ICP-AES method, some trace elements such as Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, Fe, Al and Sr were determined respectively and the interfere caused by the principal element calcium to the above elements in this determination were studied. On the other hand, the changes of these trace elements were discussed between the normal teeth and the decayed teeth and the different ages and genders. RESULTS: It was found that the content of Cu was out of and that of Al was in direct and that of others elements were in inverse proportion to one's age; the ranges of content of all determined elements in the different age groups were as follows: Sr 70-226 micrograms/g, Zn 74-157 micrograms/g, Al 37-58 micrograms/g, Fe 3.24-11 micrograms/g, Cr 3.03-6.40 micrograms/g, Mn 2-3.39 micrograms/g and Cu 0.18-1.53 micrograms/g; the content of Sr in the female's teeth was obviously and that of Fe, Mn, Zn, Al were slightly higher than in male's, whereas the contents of Cu and Cr in the two genders were mainly consistent. CONCLUSION: Trace elements in teeth are a factor to indicate sorts of teeth diseases and provide the scientific references for some researches in teeth diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Relation between trace element levels in plasma and myocardium during coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis in the mouse.

During most infections the plasma levels of trace elements change, but it is not clear if this reflects changes in the infected tissues. Coxsackievirus B3 (CB3) infection may result in viral replication, subsequent inflammation and changed trace element levels in the myocardium. In the present study, the trace element levels in the plasma and heart of adult male A/J mice were determined during the pre-inflammatory stage (day 4) of CB3 myocarditis for the following trace elements: aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn). The severity of the infection was assessed through clinical signs of disease and trace element levels were measured through inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the heart, the levels decreased for V (59%; p < 0.01), Co (38%; p < 0.01), Al (81%; p < 0.01), As (66%; p < 0.01) and Se (16%; p < 0.01). Increased levels were detected for Mn (13%; p < 0.05), Fe (48%; p < 0.01), Cu (34%; p < 0.01) and Ag (46%; p < 0.01). In the plasma, decreases were detected in the level of Zn (32%; p < 0.05), whereas increases were seen in Mn (362%; p < 0.05), Fe (272%; p < 0.01), Co (71%; p < 0.05), Cu (25%; n.s.) and Mg (43%; p < 0.01) levels. A correlation was found between the levels in plasma and myocardium for Co (r(s) = -0.636; p < 0.05), Fe (r(s) = 0.764; p < 0.05), Mn (r(s) = 0.682; p < 0.05) and Mg (r(s) = -0.791; p < 0.05). Thus, determination of some of these trace elements in the plasma may be useful to indicate target tissue involvement in the early pre- inflammatory stage of an infectious disease. Some of these elements are important nutrients for the immune system, while others may be associated with the development of disease complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Trace elements and lipid peroxidation in uremic patients on hemodialysis.

Trace elements and lipid peroxidation in 26 patients with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis and 25 healthy subjects were observed. Both plasma and erythrocyte trace elements and plasma malon dialdehyde (MDA) were examined immediately before and after hemodialysis. Increased levels of plasma Cu, MDA, and erythrocyte Pb, Mn, Zn, and a significantly decreased plasma Se, Zn, and erythrocyte Se were found in patients before hemodialysis. After a single hemodialysis, erythrocyte Mn, Cu, Zn, and plasma Cu, Al, and MDA were significantly increased whereas both plasma and erythrocyte Se were lower in patients than in healthy subjects. The level of MDA was not significantly changed during the single hemodialysis. Both plasma and erythrocyte Zn levels and plasma Cu and Al were significantly higher after hemodialysis than before hemodialysis. In conclusion, levels of trace elements are altered by hemodialysis, which may increase patient susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in uremia.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Speciation as an analytical aid in trace element research in infant nutrition.

The aim of this work was twofold: to study the binding pattern of trace elements in formulas as compared with breast milk and the relationship between trace elements in breast milk and in maternal dietary intake. To investigate the binding form of trace elements in these nutritive fluids, methods for protein separation were combined with methods for trace element determination in the eluted fractions. HPLC and ICP-AES or ICP-MS were coupled on-line for the simultaneous speciation of elements of nutritional interest, viz., Ca, K, Mg, P, S, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn, and also the heavy metals Cd and Pb in both human mild whey and formulas. In order to minimize interactions between the labile metal protein complexes and the column material, size-exclusion chromatography was used for protein separation. The binding pattern of trace elements in formulas is significantly different from that in breast milk and depends on its main component (cow's milk or soy), its processing (hydrolysis) and the chemical form (inorganic) of the added compounds. For example, compared with breast-fed infants the iron supply of formula-fed infants is much higher (up to 20-fold); in addition, the binding forms of Fe are very different in the two fluids. This has to be evaluated with respect to interactions with other elements during intestinal uptake. The investigation of breast milk samples from different regions of the world showed comparable shapes for teh elution profiles and for Mo and Se a dependence on the regional maternal dietary intake. Speciation studies carried out on breast milk samples as a function of the selenium content showed significant changes in the zinc-binding pattern. In particular, citrate (as a zinc-binding component) was found to decrease with increasing dietary selenium intake of the mother.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed2006

Influence of lanthanum on the accumulation of trace elements in chloroplasts of cucumber seedling leaves.

Influence of La3+ on the accumulation of trace elements (75Se, 56 Co, 83 Rb, 48 V, 95 mTc, and 67Ga) in chloroplasts of cucumber seedling leaves was studied by a radioactive multi-tracer technique. At the same time, chloroplast contents of different concentrations of La3+ treatment were calculated. It was observed that chloroplast contents peaked at 0.02 mM La3+ treatment and that the uptake and distribution of these trace elements in chloroplasts of cucumber seedling leaves are different under different La3+ treatments. With the increase of lanthanum concentrations from 0.002 to 2 mM, the uptake percentages of 75Se, 56 Co, and 83 Rb presented an obvious increase and then sharply decreased in contrast to the non-lanthanum treatment, whereas there appeared a sharp decrease and then restored control level in the uptake of 48 V. The other two trace elements, namely 95 mTc and 67Ga, were accumulated only in the presence of 0.02 mM La3+. The results indicate that lanthanum treatments to growing the cucumber lead to the change of trace element uptake in the chloroplasts of leaves, which suggest that lanthanum might influence the accumulation of trace elements in chloroplasts of cucumber seedling leaves by regulation of various ion transport mechanisms, thus affecting the photosystem of leaves.

Chloroplasts↗

PubMed2002

Relationships between trace element concentrations in human blood and serum.

Trace element interactions can affect the absorption, metabolism, or effects of elements. Also, different elements may derive from the same source. Associations in biological media between element concentrations may indicate such phenomena. A large number of correlations were found between 13 trace elements (Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Rh, Pd, Cd, W, Pt, Hg, Tl, and Pb) in human blood and/or serum, as investigated in 372 Swedish adolescents. Notably, serum Se correlated with blood Pb and blood Hg and Cu and Zn were correlated to each other in both blood and serum. The elements Pt, Pd and Rh, spread in the environment through use of catalytic converters in cars, were closely correlated in both blood and serum. Apart from the correlations with a probable biological or exposure-related explanation, several other correlations, of yet unknown importance and origin, were found.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Trace element availability and plant growth in a mine-spill-contaminated soil under assisted natural remediation II. Plants.

In this second part, we evaluated the effects of different amendments on plant growth (Agrostis stolonifera L.), and trace element accumulation and removal by plants in a trace element (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) contaminated soil. Description of the various treatments is given in Part I of this work. The plants were grown for consecutive periods (2002, 2003, 2004), 5 months each and harvested twice in each period. Results showed that plant growth was enhanced and trace element concentrations in plant were reduced in SL, MWC, BC and LEO treatments in the first period. No significant differences were observed in subsequent periods. This seemed to be related with changes in soil pH. Removal of trace elements was higher in SL, MWC, BC and LEO treatments due to higher biomass production in the first period. In following years no significant differences between treatments were found. Data from Part I of this study were also used to compare trace element bioavailable concentrations extracted with 0.01 M CaCl2 and 0.05 M EDTA with trace elements in plant. We observed that 0.01 M CaCl2 was more suitable for determination of bioavailable concentrations and that extraction with EDTA overestimated biovailability of trace elements in amended treatments, especially in those where composts were added.

Agrostis↗