Determination of selenium in small volumes of blood plasma and serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

doi:10.1016/S0003-2670(01)95468-6

Analytica Chimica Acta

Volume 140, Issue 1, 1 August 1982, Pages 221-227

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(01)95468-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

A graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometric method is described for the determination of selenium in blood plasma and serum. Samples are diluted (1 + 9) with a solution containing nickel and nitric acid and measured by a standard additions method. Repeatability for a serum sample containing 87 μg Se l^-1 was 4.4%. The mean recovery of selenium(IV) from a human protein solution was 97.5%. The method was further tested in an interlaboratory comparison study. The standard additions procedure requires a sample volume of 200 μl and a total time of about 7.5 min. A secondary calibration graph can be used, however, resulting in increased throughput up to 13 samples per hour, and a decrease in the sample volume needed to 100 μl.

References (19)

R.F. Burk
G. Ohi et al.
Food Cosmet. Toxicol.
(1980)
J.H. Watkinson
Anal. Chim. Acta
(1979)
K. Saeed et al.
Anal. Chim. Acta
(1979)
J. Alexander et al.
Anal. Chim. Acta
(1980)
K. Saeed et al.
Anal. Chim. Acta
(1981)
R.J. Shamberger
Biol. Trace Element Res.
(1980)
S. Skerfving
Environ. Health Perspect.
(1978)
A.E. Harper
Nutr. Rev.
(1980)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (131)

Trace element status in Saudi patients with established atherosclerosis
2006, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
Traditional coronary risk factors do not fully explain variations in the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Epidemiological studies have implicated perturbations in selenium, copper, and zinc metabolism in the aetiology of CVD. However, these studies have been principally undertaken in Caucasian populations, in whom trace element intake is generally sufficient.
We have measured serum and urine selenium, copper, and zinc; and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and lipid peroxide concentrations in 130 Saudi male subjects with established CVD, and 130 age-matched controls.
Diabetes mellitus, positive smoking habit (p<0.0001 for both), and hypertension (p<0.05) were more prevalent among CVD patients. Urinary copper (p<0.0001) and zinc (p<0.05) were higher among controls. Serum selenium concentrations were lower among CVD patients (p<0.001), and a high proportion (52%) had selenium levels below 79 μg/L compared to controls (22%) (p<0.0001). Conditional logistic regression analysis, showed the characteristics differentiating CVD patients from controls were serum zinc (odds ratio (OR) 0.92, confidence interval (CI) 0.85–0.99, p<0.05), serum copper/zinc ratio (OR 0.31, CI 0.10–0.96), serum selenium (OR 0.07, CI 0.02–0.31, p<0.0001), and urine selenium (OR 3.34, CI 1.40–7.99, p<0.01).
Measures of trace metals status appear to be associated with the risk of atherosclerosis in a Saudi male population.
Dietary and serum vitamins and minerals as predictors of myocardial infarction and stroke in elderly subjects
2005, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
According to a widespread hypothesis, antioxidative vitamins and trace elements may protect the body against atherosclerotic diseases, especially in the elderly. We assessed dietary and serum vitamins and minerals for prediction of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in elderly subjects.
In a population-based health survey with special emphasis on the diet, subjects aged 65–99 years were followed up for up to 10 years. The study population consisted of 361 men and 394 women. Information on individual food consumption was elicited by means of dietary history interviews. Serum vitamins and mineral elements were analysed utilizing commonly applied biochemical methods. Prediction analyses were based on 130 cases accumulated in the AMI group, 70 subjects in the stroke group, and corresponding control subjects. The cases were determined on the basis of revised information from the National Register of Cases of Death, and from the National Hospital Discharge Register. Low intake of vitamin D (p=0.011) and low serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D (p=0.0053) were significantly predictive of stroke when adjusted for age, gender, smoking and functional capacity. On the other hand, high dietary intakes of two flavonoids, luteolin (p=0.0096) and kaempferol (p=0.002) were associated with lowered risk of AMI. Furthermore, low serum levels of iron predicted both AMI (p=0.013) and stroke (p=0.019). The results remained essentially unchanged when adjusted for additional major risk factors of atherosclerosis.
From the items in the dietary interview, low intakes of vitamin D and certain flavonoids emerged as the sole predictors of AMI and stroke. In biochemical analyses, on the other hand, these disorders were predicted only by low levels of 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D and iron in the serum.
Methyl mercury exposure in Swedish women with high fish consumption
2005, Science of the Total Environment
We studied the exposure to methyl mercury (MeHg) in 127 Swedish women of childbearing age with high consumption of various types of fish, using total mercury (T-Hg) in hair and MeHg in blood as biomarkers. Fish consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), including detailed information about consumption of different fish species, reflecting average intake during 1 year. We also determined inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in blood, and selenium (Se) in serum. The average total fish consumption, as reported in the food frequency questionnaire, was approximately 4 times/week (range 1.6–19 times/week). Fish species potentially high in MeHg, included in the Swedish dietary advisories, was consumed by 79% of the women. About 10% consumed such species more than once a week, i.e., more than what is recommended. Other fish species potentially high in MeHg, not included in the Swedish dietary advisories, was consumed by 54% of the women. Eleven percent never consumed fish species potentially high in MeHg.
T-Hg in hair (median 0.70 mg/kg; range 0.08–6.6 mg/kg) was associated with MeHg in blood (median 1.7 μg/L; range 0.30–14 μg/L; r_s=0.78; p<0.001). Hair T-Hg, blood MeHg and serum Se (median 70 μg/L; range 46–154 μg/L) increased with increasing total fish consumption (r_s=0.32; p<0.001, r_s=0.37; p<0.001 and r_s=0.35; p=0.002, respectively). I-Hg in blood (median 0.24 μg/L; range 0.01–1.6 μg/L) increased with increasing number of dental amalgam fillings. We found no statistical significant associations between the various mercury species measured and the Se concentration in serum. Hair mercury levels exceeded the levels corresponding to the EPA reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 μg MeHg/kg b.w. per day in 20% of the women. Thus, there seems to be no margin of safety for neurodevelopmental effects in fetus, for women with high fish consumption unless they decrease their intake of certain fish species.
Exposure to methylmercury in non-fish-eating people in Sweden
2004, Environmental Research
The extensive use of fish meal as a source of protein for poultry and swine may lead to additional exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). We determined the concentration of MeHg and inorganic mercury (I-Hg) in blood and total mercury (T-Hg) in hair in 27 persons (9 men and 18 women, 20–58 years of age) who stated that they had consumed no fish for a period of 2 years or more. The participants answered a food frequency questionnaire and reported their number of dental amalgam fillings. The MeHg concentrations in blood (median, 0.10 μg/L; range, 0.0–1.0 μg/L) were very low and did not constitute a concern for health effects. We also analyzed selenium (Se) in serum. The median concentration was 76 μg/L (range, 53–103 μg/L), which is in agreement with previous studies of the Swedish general population, indicating that the Se status of non-fish-eating individuals is not substantially lower than that of people who include fish in their diet. We found a significant association (P=0.002) between the number of dental amalgam fillings and the I-Hg concentration in blood (median, 0.09 μg/L; range, 0.03–0.57 μg/L). The T-Hg in hair (median, 0.06 mg/kg; range, 0.04–0.32 mg/kg) was significantly associated (R²=0.89; P<0.001) with the MeHg in blood, but not with the I-Hg in blood. Therefore, the T-Hg in hair seems to reflect MeHg exposure and not I-Hg exposure even in persons with no intake of fish.
Effects of tobacco smoking on plasma selenium, zinc, copper and iron concentrations and related antioxidative enzyme activities
2001, Clinical Biochemistry
Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether alterations in antioxidative enzyme activities are dependent on their cofactor concentrations in tobacco smokers.
Design and methods: Plasma selenium, copper, zinc and iron concentrations, and the activities of related erythrocyte antioxidative enzymes copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured in tobacco smokers and compared with those of nonsmokers. Plasma thiocyanate levels were measured as an index of smoking status.
Results: While plasma copper concentration and erythrocyte Cu-Zn SOD activity were significantly higher, plasma selenium concentration and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were significantly lower in tobacco smokers than in nonsmokers. There was no significant difference in plasma iron and zinc concentrations or erythrocyte CAT activity between the two groups. There were significant positive correlations between erythrocyte GSH-Px and plasma selenium levels, between Cu-Zn SOD and copper levels, and between CAT and iron levels, and a negative correlation between plasma thiocyanate and selenium content in tobacco smokers.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that antioxidative enzyme activities change depending on their cofactor concentrations in tobacco smokers.
Determination of selenium in human blood specimens by electrothermal atomic absorption
2000, Analytica Chimica Acta
Citation Excerpt :
Moreover, selenium can be present in serum in several chemical forms, and so the use of inorganic selenium as standard for spiking may lead to errors if the analytical method used does not guarantee complete atomisation of all these selenium species. However, inorganic standard selenium is mainly used for spiking [3,13–15,17,19,21,23,31,52,61,66,68] and selenomethionine is seldom added [13,19]. Interlaboratory exercises provide external evaluation of the performance and the quality of the data obtained [32,33,37,39,52,72,89].
The determination of selenium in serum, plasma and whole blood by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) is reviewed. All steps of the analysis, including sampling, storage, measurement conditions, the use of chemical modifiers, background correction, types of atomiser and furnace temperature programmes have been considered. Calibration methods, accuracy and validation, detection limits and precision are summarised and discussed.

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Determination of selenium in small volumes of blood plasma and serum by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

Food Cosmet. Toxicol.

Anal. Chim. Acta

Anal. Chim. Acta

Anal. Chim. Acta

Anal. Chim. Acta

Biol. Trace Element Res.

Environ. Health Perspect.

Nutr. Rev.