Determination of 14 elements in Taiwanese bones

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Geochemistry
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Establishing a baseline elemental composition of human bone is crucial for understanding health and disease.
• Taiwanese bone elemental data is limited, necessitating comprehensive analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the concentrations of 14 elements in human bone samples from Taiwan.
• To investigate factors influencing elemental bone composition, including diet and disease.
• To establish a foundational database for Taiwanese bone elements.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-seven bone samples from 70 subjects undergoing surgery were analyzed.
• Microwave digestion was used for sample pretreatment.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) quantified 14 elements.

Main Results:

• Calcium (Ca) showed the highest concentration, followed by Magnesium (Mg) and Zinc (Zn).
• Manganese (Mn), Cadmium (Cd), and Cobalt (Co) exhibited the lowest concentrations.
• Seafood consumption frequency positively correlated with the presence of all 14 analyzed elements.
• Several elements displayed positive inter-correlations, suggesting synergistic biological roles.
• No significant differences in elemental concentrations were observed based on bone disease etiology or patient age.

Conclusions:

• Seafood intake is a significant factor influencing elemental bone composition in the Taiwanese population.
• Further research is recommended to establish normal ranges for bone elements in Taiwan.
• Such data is vital for understanding the relationship between elemental profiles and bone disease patterns.