American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 8, 846-854, Copyright © 1960 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Trace Metals in Human Plasma and Red Blood Cells

A Study of Magnesium, Chromium, Nickel, Copper and Zinc I. Observations of Normal Subjects

¹ From the Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, and the Pratt Trace Analysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

One hundred and nine samples of plasma and 106 samples of red blood cells from sixty-one normal subjects were analyzed by a spectrochemical method for magnesium, chromium, nickel, copper and zinc. The ranges and mean plasma levels of these elements were found to be: magnesium 12.5 to 36.0, 20.4; chromium 0.009 to 0.055, 0.027; nickel 0.00 to 0.27, 0.060; copper 0.50 to 1.93, 1.03; zinc 0.49 to 7.70, 3.01 p.p.m. The ranges and mean red cell levels were found to be: magnesium 26.0 to 131.0, 74.3; chromium 0.005 to 0.054, 0.021; nickel 0.00 to 0.31, 0.053; copper 0.28 to 2.8, 0.82; zinc 3.6 to 25.4, 10.0 p.p.m. Statistical analysis of the data showed no significant differences attributable to sex and race. The mean plasma values for zinc were lower in the second and third decades than in the fourth decade. The mean red blood cell values for nickel in the second decade and copper in the fifth decade were found to be lower than average.