High-precision isotopic analysis of essential mineral elements in biomedicine: natural isotope ratio variations as potential diagnostic and/or prognostic markers

•High-precision isotopic analysis of Ca, Cu, Fe and Zn reveals clinically relevant information.•Isotope ratio variability among organs, biofluids, tissues and bone.•As a first stage, factors affecting isotope ratios were studied in controls.•Isotope ratio data show diagnostic and prognostic capabili...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:TrAC, Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.) Trends in analytical chemistry (Regular ed.), 2016-02, Vol.76, p.182-193
Main Authors: Costas-Rodríguez, Marta, Delanghe, Joris, Vanhaecke, Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical applications
Bone mineral balance
Cancer
Essential elements
Isotopic analysis
Liver cirrhosis
MC-ICP-MS
Metabolism
Metals
Natural isotope ratio variations
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•High-precision isotopic analysis of Ca, Cu, Fe and Zn reveals clinically relevant information.•Isotope ratio variability among organs, biofluids, tissues and bone.•As a first stage, factors affecting isotope ratios were studied in controls.•Isotope ratio data show diagnostic and prognostic capabilities. High-precision isotopic analysis of essential mineral elements, mainly Ca, Cu, Fe and Zn, provides relevant biomedical information. For this application, multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry is the preferred technique. Variation in the isotopic signature of these elements is governed by alterations in their uptake, metabolism and/or excretion. Therefore, diseases that affect mineral metal metabolism, such as hemochromatosis, cancer, liver cirrhosis and Wilson's disease, affect the isotopic composition of these elements in some body compartments. This review discusses how natural isotope ratio variations in biofluids can potentially be exploited as alternative approaches for the diagnosis of diseases that can otherwise only be established at a later stage or via a more invasive method and/or for prognostic purposes. This discussion also includes an evaluation of the isotopic variability in biofluids for apparently healthy individuals and in biofluids, soft tissues and bone of experimentally controlled animals. Physiological and lifestyle factors were also paid attention to.
ISSN:0165-9936
1879-3142
DOI:10.1016/j.trac.2015.10.008