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Twenty-four-hour urinary trace element excretion: reference intervals and interpretive issues.
Christine E Sieniawska1, Lynne C Jung, Rasaq Olufadi
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, C Level MP 6, South Block, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry
|February 25, 2012
Summary
New reference intervals for 24-hour urine trace element excretion were established using ICP-MS. Trace element to creatinine ratios require cautious interpretation with distinct ranges for males and females.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Environmental Health
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is increasingly used in clinical labs for trace element toxicity risk assessment and occupational monitoring.
- Interpreting random urine samples can be difficult; 24-hour collections are often preferred but recent reference data are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish new reference intervals for 31 trace elements in 24-hour urine samples from healthy adults.
- To compare 24-hour trace element excretion and trace element:creatinine ratios between men and women.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 24-hour urine samples from 111 healthy adults using ICP-MS and atomic absorption spectroscopy for zinc.
- Determined non-parametric 0.95 coverage intervals for trace element excretion and trace element:creatinine ratios.
Main Results:
- Established new reference intervals for 24-hour urine trace element excretion.
- Found significant differences in 24-hour excretion between men and women for 17 elements.
- Observed reversed differences when using trace element:creatinine ratios, with 18 elements higher in women due to lower creatinine excretion.
Conclusions:
- New adult reference intervals for 24-hour urine trace element excretion were successfully obtained.
- Trace element:creatinine ratios should be used cautiously, requiring separate reference ranges for men and women.
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