Trace elements in full-term neonate hair

Abstract

Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) was employed to measure simultaneously the concentration of 12 trace elements in the hair of 141 AGA newborn infants at term. Log-normal distributions were measured for all elements. There were no significant differences in trace elements in relation to sex, gestational age and body weight. The geometric means (mg/kg) were: Cr, 1.5 +/- 0.2; Mn, 1.5 +/- 0.1; Fe, 51 +/- 4; Ni, 1.0 +/- 0.2; Cu, 6.1 +/- 0.3; Zn, 133 +/- 3; As, 0.055 +/- 0.005; Se 0.81 +/- 0.05; Br, 1.3 +/- 0.1; Pb, 1.4 +/- 0.2; Rb, 0.22 +/- 0.03; and Sr, 1.5 +/- 0.2. Some direct and inverse partial correlations among elements were found at different levels of significance. Each element was significantly correlated with at least one other. Zinc and copper concentrations were lower compared to data in the literature. The high values of chromium and selenium concentrations were in agreement with previous findings. The manganese level was in accordance with previous data. The Zn/Cu ratio agreed very well with the data in the literature. This indicates that while concentration values may be subjected to large variations due to living conditions, correlations could be more stable and therefore offer insight on the regulatory mechanisms governing trace element metabolism in man.