Study of the Nutritional Status of Maternal Breast Milk in Preterm Infants in Nigeria

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis were used to determine the concentration of 13 elements in the breast milk collected within the first week of lactation and after morning feed from 16 pre-term mothers and 20 term mothers. The results of the study show that pre-term milk has a significantly higher concentration of Cl, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn while term mothers have a significantly higher concentration of P and Br. No significant differences were, however, found in the mean concentration of Al, Ca, I and Rb. Furthermore, the mean concentration for most of the elements found in the breast milk fall within the range of the concentrations obtained for the commercial infant milk formulae.     

A study of the developmental changes in trace elements and minerals in rat and mouse milk by thermal neutron activation analysis

The variations in concentrations of 12 elements (Na, Mg, Cl, K, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, I and Cs) were investigated by thermal neutron activation analysis. Variation patterns were given in their concentration with the progression of lactation day: (1) a constant level without significant variations in time; (2) a progressive depletion throughout lactation; (3) a rapid decrease in the early stage of lactation, which does not continue significantly during late lactation; (4) an initial increase in the early stage of lactation followed by decrease in concentration levels. The behaviours in concentrations of Mg, Fe, Co, Zn, Se, I and Cs are similar in both rat and mouse milks. Different patterns between both milks were observed in the concentrations of Na, Cl, K, Br and Rb, and those of these elements including Mg and I seemed to be influenced by maternal dietary intakes.     

尿毒症患者与血清八种元素含量关系的研究

检测了３７例尿毒症患者血清微量元素Ｆｅ、Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ和常量元素Ｋ、Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｐ的含量，并进行比较，探讨其相互关系，以期为尿毒症的发生发展及防治措施提供依据．结果发现尿毒症患者血清Ｋ、Ｐ、Ｍｇ极显著高于对照组（均Ｐ＜０．０１），而Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｕ、Ｆｅ及Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ则极显著低于对照组（均Ｐ＜０．０１），且Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ与肾实质受损程度呈负相关，提示Ｎａ／Ｋ、Ｃａ／Ｍｇ降低与尿毒症的发生发展过程有密切的关系．     

Analytical Assessment of Bioelements in Various Types of Black Teas from Different Geographical Origins in View of Chemometric Approach

A comprehensive approach to the mineral composition of black teas of different origins was studied using the Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) method, supported by chemometric tools including Principal Component Analysis PCA) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Significant differences between the teas from seven countries (Japan, Nepal, Kenya, Iran, Sri Lanka, India, and China) were shown. K was the main element determined in all teas, with an average concentration of 11,649 mg/kg, followed by Ca, Mg and Mn. In general, regarding all investigated black teas, the element content was ranked in the following order: K > Ca > Mg > Mn > Fe > Na > Zn > Cu. The applied chemometric methods allowed us to recognize black tea clusters based on their mineral composition and place of cultivation, and allowed us to find correlations between particular elements in black teas. The performed analyses revealed interesting correlations between the concentration of various elements in black teas: K was negatively correlated with Na, Fe, Mn and Cu; K was positively correlated with the content of Ca and Mg. Significant positive correlations between Mn and Fe and Mn and Zn in the studied black tea samples were also revealed. It was shown that mineral composition may be a significant factor regarding the origin of the black tea, not only considering the country, but also the region or province.     

Preparation and homogeneity characterization of ten agricultural/food reference materials for elemental composition

Summary Ten agricultural/food reference materials (RM): bovine muscle powder, corn starch, hard red spring wheat flour, soft winter wheat flour, whole milk powder, wheat gluten, corn bran, Durum wheat flour, whole egg powder and microcystalline cellulose, were prepared by milling, irradiation, sieving, blending and packaging procedures. Homogeneity tests for 14 elements in randomly selected units were performed by the initiating laboratories by application of various analytical methods. Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sr and Zn were determined by acid digestion flame atomic absorption spectrometry, and Cd, Co, Ni and Pb using acid digestion graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after separation/preconcentration of the analytes by co-precipitation. In addition, the extensive set of analytical results obtained from the interlaboratory cooperative characterization campaign was assessed to provide homogeneity estimates for other elements. Measures of homogeneity were estimated from the within-laboratory precision from the more precise laboratories. All materials exhibited acceptable homogeneity for virtually all 29 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Br, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, V, Zn) for which best estimate concentration values were available, an essential pre-requisite in establishing reference values for these materials. Sixty-two percent of all homogeneity coefficients of variation (CV) were below 5%, with Br, Ca, Cl, Mg, Na, P, Zn and especially K and N exhibiting very high homogeneity CV less than 1% in some cases.Contribution no. 92–148 from Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research     

Determination of 19 elements in mineral waters by coprecipitation with PbS and by neutron activation analysis

Concentrations of Ag, Al, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, I, In, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sn, Sr, U, V and Zn were determined in 34 samples of mineral waters from Canada and from 9 other countries. The concentrations of elements which were frequently determined ranged (in ppb): Ag 0.1–6, Al 3–173, Cu 2–137, La 0.04–10, Mg 9–1140, Mn 0.1–99, Sb 1–50, V 0.01–2.6 and Zn 3–613.     

高血压患者血清中八种金属元素的

通过对48名高血压患者和52名正常健康人进行血清中八种金属元素的检测,探讨了人体必需金属元素的含量变化是否与患高血压疾病有直接的关系。采用离心分离的方法处理样品,用火焰原子吸收分光光度法检测样品中钙、镁、钾、钠、锌、铜、铁和锰的水平含量。结果表明,患高血压组血清Na、Mg、Zn、Fe、Mn的水平含量均高于健康对照组,其中Na、Mn两组间比较差异显著（P＜0．05）,Zn、Fe两组间比较差异非常显著（P＜0．01）,Mg两组间比较差异无显著性（P＞0.05);患高血压组血清Na／K比值均高于健康对照组,Ca/Mg、Cu/Zn比值均低于健康对照组。检测的八种金属元素在人体内的含量多少与患高血压疾病有一定的关系。提示适当增补体内的Ca、K、Cu和Mg含量,减少Na的过多摄入,科学控制Zn、Fe、Mn的增加,注意体内Na/K、Ca/Mg和Cu/Zn比值的平衡关系,降低Na/K比,提高Cu/Zn比,补Ca的同时一定要注意适当补充Mg,保持体内各元素间的相互依赖关系,有利于高血压病的预防和治疗。     

Evaluation of some essential and trace elements in diets from 3 nurseries from Juiz de Fora, M.G., Brazil, by neutron activation analysis

A study was made in diets offered to a group of pre-school children,whose mean age was 67 months and remained the whole day in three day carecenters from Juiz de Fora, M.G., Brazil. For sampling, the duplicate portiontechnique was used, and the diets were collected and analyzed separately eachday in the 3 nurseries. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was appliedto the determination of 16 elements. The daily dietary intake values werecompared to the RDA (children 4–6 years old). Based on this reference,Ca, Fe, Se and Zn were found to be deficient, Mg and Mn were comparable tothe RDA and the Cl and Na concentrations were higher compared to their RDA.For the other elements measured, there are no RDA's for children.     

Preliminary study of trace elements in human brain tumor tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Elemental profiles of brain tumor tissues from 15 patients of astrocytomas (grade I–III) and normal human brain tissues of 23 male age matched autopsies as controls have been studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The SLOWPOKE reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 8·10¹¹n·cm^–2·s^–1 and swimming pool type reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 1·10¹³n·cm^–2·s^–1 were used for short and long irradiation of samples, respectively. Spectrophotometry was only used for analyzing phosphorus. A total of 18 elements Se, Na, K, Br, Cl, Mn, Mg, S, Ca, Cu, Hg, Cr, Fe, Rb, Zn, Co, Sc and P has been determined for this purpose. The reliability of methods has been checked by analyzing biological standard reference materials horse kidney (IAEA H-8) and bovine liver (NBS SRM 1577a). The analytical results showed that compared with the normal brain tissues, concentrations of Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Mn, Br and Sc were significantly higher in tumor tissues (P<0.01) and concentrations of Rb, K and P were lower, while no differences for contents of Mg, S, Cr, Hg, Na and Cl were observed. A negative correlation between P and Ca in malignant and normal brain tissues was observed.     

Determination of mineral constituents in duplicate portion diets of two university student groups by instrumental neutron activation

Concentrations of 15 elements were determined simultaneously in duplicateportion diets of two university student groups from So Paulo Universityconsisting of nine women (20–23 years) and ten men (20–24 years).Thediet samples were prepared by either freeze-drying or drying in a ventilatedoven. About 100–200 mg of diets were irradiated for 2 minutes and 8hours in the IEA-R1m research reactor and Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, K, Fe, Mn,Mg, Mo, Na, Rb, Se, and Zn were determined by instrumental neutron activationanalysis (INAA). The average daily intakes found in the women and men groupswere: 2.1 and 4.3 mg of Br, 501 and 707 mg of Ca; 3.1 and 6.0 g of Cl; 12and 25 mg of Co; 15 and 36 µg of Cs; 53 and 63 µg of Cr; 5.1 and10.8 mg of Fe; 1.3 and 2.8 g of K; 134 and 306 mg of Mg; 1.3 and 4.1 mg ofMn; 134 and 302 mg of Mo, 2.0 and 4.1 g of Na; 2.4 and 4.6 mg of Rb; 29 and41 µg of Se; 6.2 and 10.6 mg of Zn, respectively. The daily intakesof Ca, Se and Zn in both groups and Fe in the women groups appeared to bebelow the U.S. RDA recommendations. For the elements Na and Cl the daily intakeswere higher than the recommended values by RDA.     

Mineral element content in prized matsutake mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) collected in China

The contents of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn in fruiting bodies of the highly-prized matsutake mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake) from twelve widely separated sites in Southwest China were determined using AAS. The results for dried mushrooms showed that the mean contents (mg kg^?1) of the determined elements decreased in the following order: K (440–2000), Na (150–740), Ca (90–850), Mg (90–680), Zn (20–180), Fe (13–78), Cu (0.34–45), Mn (0.09–7.6).     

A study of relationship of element contents in human hair with some respiratory system diseases

19 elements, such as Ca, Mg, Fe, Se, Cu, Zn, etc., in hair of 65 patients with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema and cor-pulmonale diseases and 65 healthy people have been investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results show that the contents of Ca and Mg are lower and Fe, As and Co are higher in the hair of patients than in healthy persons. The contents of Ca and Mg are lower and Fe is higher in the hair of patients during attack periods of chronic bronchitis than in relaxed periods. The differences are significant (P<0.05–0.01). The content of Ca is closely related to that of Mg in hair (P<0.01). The contents of inorganic elements in the Chinese medicine cough and asthma capsule used to treat chronic bronchitis have been determined. The results show that the contents of elements Ca, Mg, Sr, etc., are higher in this medicine than the average amounts of these elements in 120 other Chinese medicines.     

白族长寿地区硬果仁中19种元素的测定分析

用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法（ICP－AES）,对云南省白族长寿区的葵花子仁、麻子仁和核桃仁中的Ca、Mg、P、S、Na、AI、B、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mo、Sr、Mn、Cr、Se、Ge、Cd、Pb、As等19种元素进行了测定分析。结果表明,3种硬果仁中含有丰富的人体必需的Ca、Mg、P、S、Na、Fe、Zn、Mn、Se、Cu、Cr、Sr、Mo等有益元素,且P、Mg、S、Ca、Na、Zn、Mn、Fe、Se的含量较高。这些生命元素在3种硬果仁中的含量存在差异。有害元素Cd、Pb均未检出,核桃仁中As含量较高。硬果仁中富含这些生命元素是该地区老人健康长寿的一个重要原因。     

Multielement determination in water by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis /INAA/ technique has been applied to a water sample to determine the elemental concentrations. The sample was irradiated with a neutron flux of 1.2×10¹² n cm^–2 s^–1 for two different periods followed by counting at three different decay times, using two coaxial type high-resolution Ge/Li/ detectors. The dominant elements determined in the water sample are Ca, Cl, Na, Mg, and K present in ppm-level while Co, I, Mn, Sm, and Sb are present in smaller amounts, approximately on the average 0.01 ppm. Only traces of other elements such as the rare-earth elements, Ag, As, Ba, Cu, Cd, Fe, Sr, W, Zn, seem to be present in the water sample.     

Multielemental determination in water by neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique has been applied to a water sample to determine the elemental concentrations. The sample was irradiated at a neutron flux of 1.2·10¹² n·cm^–2·s^–1 for two different periods followed by counting at three different decay times, using two coaxial type high-resolution Ge(Li) detectors. The dominant elements detected in the water sample are Ca, Cl, Na, Mg, and K present in levels while Co, I, Mn, Sm, and Sb are present in smaller amounts approximately on the average 0.01 ppm. Only traces of other elements such as rare-earth elements, Ag, As, Ba, Cu, Cd, Fe, Sr, W, Zn, seem to be present in the water samples.     

The status of trace and minor elements in some Bangladeshi foodstuffs

An investigation is conducted on the status of trace and minor elements in some foodstuffs (cereals, vegetables, milk, egg and fish), commonly consumed in Bangladesh, using proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and radioisotope-induced X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. In PIXE measurements, the samples were irradiated in air with 2.0 MeV (energy on the target) protons having the beam intensity of 30 nA for characteristic X-ray excitation, while in XRF analysis, the samples were excited for 5000 seconds with a 10 mCi Cd-109 annular X-ray source. The elemental concentration of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Mo, and Pb were determined in the samples by comparison with X-ray yield curves constructed from IAEA and NBS standard reference materials. The validity of the analytical procedures (PIXE and XRF) followed in this study has been confirmed by comparative measurements of Cu, Zn and Mn in some varieties of rice with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicate that none of the food regimes investigated here is burdened with heavy metals beyond permissible limits except five species of vegetables with chromium having the range of 0.99–3.59 mg/kg compared to the literature value of 0.0–0.36 mg/kg (dry weight basis). An average value of 0.2 mg/kg of arsenic was observed both in IRRI (n=16) and local Aman (n=12) varieties of rice and only one hen egg contained 1.7 mg/kg of lead in yolk. The zinc content in some marine fish from Bay of Bengal was reported to be 5.4–19.5 mg/kg, whereas in the present study of sweet-water fish, the level is found to be 15.2–62.1 mg/kg (fresh weight basis) for five species. In human milk, both Cu (0.12–0.25 mg/l, n=8) and Zn (0.28–1.80 mg/l, n=8) levels appear to be almost half the literature values (n=25). On the other hand formula milk has higher values of Cu (0.32–1.63 mg/kg, n=16) and Zn (5.16–19.8 mg/kg, n=16).     

不同生长时期盐藻无机元素分析

测定了对数生长期和稳定期盐藻中10种无机元素K、Na、Ca、Mg、P、Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Se的含量。结果表明，稳定期盐藻中K、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Se的含量比对数生长期都有不同程度的增加，Na、P的含量反而降低。     

A trace element study of commercial infant milk and cereal formulas

Three commercial infant milk formulas, one commercial infant cereal formula and one locally grown cereal used for infant feeding in Nigeria were analyzed for 17 trace elements, viz: Al, As, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Se and Zn. The commercial milk formulas contain adequate amounts of Ca, Cl, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and Zn, the locally grown cereal contains adequate amounts of Co, K, Mg, Mn and Zn and low in Ca, Cl, Fe and Na while the commercial cereal has adequate amounts of Ca, Cl, Co, K, Mg, Na and Zn. None of the samples analyzed was found to contain any elements up to threshold toxicity limits of concentrations.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定紫斑牡丹胚乳和胚中矿物质元素

为了给离体体细胞胚的人工胚乳配制提供矿物质元素种类和数量方面的参考,用浓硝酸-高氯酸(4∶1)的混合溶液消解紫斑牡丹的胚乳和胚样品,采用电感耦合等离子体-原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)测定了样品中的(K、Na、Ca、Mg、Fe、Cu、Zn、Mn、Li、Ni、B、Ag、Cd、Pb)14种矿物质元素含量。结果表明:各元素的校准曲线的回归系数在0.9990～0.9999之间,线性良好;方法精密度高,能多元素同时分析;紫斑牡丹胚乳和胚中均含有植物生长必需的K、Ca、Mg 3种大量元素,Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Ni、B 6种微量元素,1种有益元素Na,及Li和Pb,Ag、Cd则未被检测到。在被检测到的12种元素中,Mg、Zn、Mn、Fe、K、Na、Li与Ni 8种元素在胚乳中的含量低于胚中的含量,Ca、Cu、Pb与B在胚乳中的含量则高于胚中的含量。     

Modified Baby Milk—Bioelements Composition and Toxic Elements Contamination

Breast milk has the most suitable composition for the proper development in the first year of a child’s life. However, it is often replaced with artificial milk. The aim of the study was to analyze the composition of essential elements: Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn as well as toxic elements: Ni, Pb, Sr, Li, and In in 18 formulas available in Poland. The daily supply was also estimated. The study was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry method. The results showed the presence of all essential elements tested, but the content of P and Mn significantly differed from the concentrations declared. Such discrepancies can have significant impact on the daily dose of the bioelements taken. However, the content of elements was within the reference standards established by the EU Directive with exception of P, the amount of which exceeded the norms 5.23–18.80-times. Daily supply of P in tested milk as well as Fe and Mn provided with first and hypoallergenic formula exceeded the adequate intake. Analysis revealed the contamination with harmful elements—Pb, Sr, Li, and In were detected in almost all products. The study confirms the data concerning some discrepancies in composition and the contamination of food and may provide information on the feeding quality of children and estimation of health risk associated with exposure to toxic elements.