[Concentration of zinc, copper, selenium and aluminium in nutritive solutions for parenteral administration]

Total parenteral nutrition (TNP) therapy is widely used. However the quantitative requirements or the toxicity of trace elements in parenteral solutions are difficult to assess. This paper deals with a study performed by the Trace Element Commission of the Société Française de Biologie Clinique. Trace metals (zinc, copper, selenium and aluminium) which are mainly involved in TPN solutions are analyzed in 12 different parenteral nutrition solutions commercially available. This multicentric assay (5 different sites of analysis) shows that a slight pollution can be noted for nearly all the solutions examined. But at this level (10 mumol/l for the most concentrated solution), the zinc intake cannot induce any toxicity. For copper and selenium the results indicated a negligible pollution. Small-volume solutions added with zinc, copper and selenium are correctly supplemented. As regard aluminium pollution, 4 solutions among 12 contain non negligible amounts of aluminium. The consequences of this TPN overload especially for young infants, indicate that the struggle against this pollution has to be strengthened.