Background: Homeostatic mechanisms keep plasma mineral concentrations largely unchangeable, and are not always reflective of the nutritional status. For that reason, nutritional assessment is difficult and another biological index may be of value. Recently, improvement of measuring instruments has permitted more accurate measurement of trace and ultra trace elements.
Methods: A new determination method for trace and ultra trace elements in rat plasma, that uses an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS Elan-6000, Perkin Elmer, Co., USA) without pre-treatment has enabled study of basic data of ultra trace element concentrations for the first time.
Results: The effect of low magnesium (Mg) intake, as compared with the effect of a normal diet, status of 10 trace and ultra trace element status was studied in 12 young male Wistar rats (3-weeks-old), divided into two groups and fed a normal diet or low Mg diet for 4 weeks. The plasma was diluted with ultra pure water (TAMAPURE-AA: Tama Chemical Co., Japan). Ten trace and ultra trace element (As: 75, Se: 82, Rb: 85, Sr: 87, Mo: 95, Ba: 137, Ta: 181, Ir: 193, Au: 197, Pb: 208) concentrations in the plasma were measured with ICP-MS Elan 6000. As, Rb, Sr, Ta, Ir and Au concentrations were significantly high in the plasma of low Mg rats, compared to levels in rats fed normal diets. Essentiality for mammals has been certified for Se, Rb, Mo, As and Pb, but not yet for Sr, Ba, Au, Ir and Ta.
Conclusions: These results prove that trace and ultra trace element concentrations in plasma are changeable by nutritional conditions, and suggest that new physiological functions may be found for these elements, and that they may be proved to be essential for mammals.