Iron, copper, and zinc absorption and turnover; the use of stable isotopes

This overview demonstrates the increasing use of low natural abundance stable isotopes in the investigation of mineral metabolism. There are many practical problems associated with their use and analysis and their expense has limited their application in some areas such as studies in adults. Undoubtedly we will have to assess our ideas and protocols as the practical problems and their metabolic implications become better appreciated but none the less, the use of such isotopes will certainly refine our understanding of the way the body uses elements such as zinc, copper, iron and selenium and other essential elements and will enable us to determine our dietary requirements for these nutrients and to find ways of detecting more efficiently early deficiency and toxicity states.