Skip to main content
Log in

The use of ICPMS for stable isotope tracer studies in humans: a review

  • Review
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of stable isotope tracers in human studies is a rapidly growing research field that benefits from the many new developments in inorganic mass spectrometric instrumentation and from the better availability of mass spectrometric techniques to nutritional scientists during the last three decades. Traditionally, thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) has been the preferred technique for these studies, but the development of new inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (ICPMS) techniques with better isotope-ratio measurement and interference-removal capabilities (e.g. single and multi-detector ICPMS and reaction/collision cell ICPMS) has enabled broader use of ICPMS for determination of stable isotope tracers in nutritional research. This review discusses the current and future use of ICPMS in stable isotope tracer studies in humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Turnlund JR (1996) General introduction. In: Sandstrom B, Mellon FA (eds) Stable isotopes in human nutrition—inorganic nutrient metabolism. Academic Press, London

  2. Walczyk T (2001) Fresenius J Anal Chem 370:444–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Janghorbani M, Ting BTG (1990) J Nutr Biochem 1:4–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Barnes RM (1993) Anal Chim Acta 283:115–130

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Crews HM, FA Mellon (1996) Mass spectrometry—general considerations. In: Sandstrom B, Mellon FA (eds) Stable isotopes in human nutrition—inorganic nutrient metabolism. Academic Press, London

  6. Fairweather-Tait SJ, Dainty J (2002) Food Addit Contam 19:939–947

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sandstrom B (1996) Methods for studying the absorption and metabolism of inorganic nutrients. In: Sandstrom B, Mellon FA (eds) Stable isotopes in human nutrition—inorganic nutrient metabolism. Academic Press, London

  8. Griffin IJ (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:1186–1193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Abrams SA (1999) Am J Clin Nutr 70:955–964

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Shames DM, LR Woodhouse, NM Lowe, JC King (2001) J Nutr 131:1854–1861

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Dainty J (2001) Nutr Res Rev 14:295–315

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stürup S (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Beck A, Bügel S, Stürup S, Jensen M, Mølgaard C, Hansen M, Krogsgaard O, Sandstrom B (2003) Am J Clin Nutr 77:399–405

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Field MP, Shapses S, Cifuentes M, Sherrell RM (2003) J Anal At Spectrom 18:727–733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Stürup S (2000) Development, optimisation, and application of ICP–SFMS method for the measurement of isotope ratios in Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry Department, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde, p 106

  16. Ellison SLR, Rosslein M, Williams A (2000) (eds) Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurements, 2nd edn, Eurachem/CITAC, London

  17. Beattie JH, Reid MD, Harvey LJ, Dainty J, Majsak-Newman G, Fairweather-Tait SJ (2001) Analyst 126:2225–2229

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Ingle C, Langford N, Harvey LJ, Dainty J, Armah C, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Sharp BL, Rose M, Crews HM, Lewis J (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:1502–1505

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Walczyk T, Davidsson L, Zavaleta N, Hurrell RF (1997) Fresenius J Anal Chem 359:445–449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Harvey LJ, Majsak-Newman G, Dainty J, Wharf SG, Reid MD, Beattie JH, Fairweather-Tait SJ (2002) Clin Sci 102:233–240

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Horlick G, Montaser A (1998) Analytical characteristics of ICPMS. In: Montaser A (ed) Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Wiley–VHC, New York

  22. Serfass RE, Thompson JJ, Houk RS (1986) Anal Chim Acta 188:73–84

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ting BTG, Janghorbani M (1987) Spectrochim Acta B 42B:21–27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Eagles J, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Mellon FA, Portwood DE, Self R, Götz A, Heumann KG, Crews HM (1989) Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 3:203–205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Patterson KY, Veillon C, Moser-Veillon PB, Wallace GF (1992) Anal Chim Acta 258:317–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Amarasiriwardena CJ, Krushevska A, Foner H, Argentine MD, Barnes RM (1992) J Anal At Spectrom 7:915–921

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Friel JK, Longerich HP, Jackson SE (1993) Biol Trace Elem Res 37:123–136

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Koirtyohann R (1994) Spectrochim Acta B 49:1305–1311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Knudsen E, Jensen M, Solgaard P, Sørensen SS, Sandstrom B (1994) J Nutr 125:1274–1282

    Google Scholar 

  30. Durrant SF, krushevska A, Amarasiriwardena D, Argentine MD, Romon-Guesnier S, Barnes RM (1994) J Anal At Spectrom 9:199–204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Roehl R, Gomez J, Woodhouse LR (1995) J Anal At Spectrom 10:15–22

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Veillon C, Patterson KY, Moser-Veillon PB (1996) J Anal At Spectrom 11:727–730

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Ramanujam VMS, Yokoi K, Egger NG, Dayal HH, Alcock NW, Sandstead HH (1999) Biol Trace Elem Res 68:143–158

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Yeung GS, Schauer CS, Zlotkin SH (2001) Eur J Clin Nutr 55:1098–1103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Luten JB, T Muys, Van Dokkum W (1993) The determination of stable isotopes of zinc, copper, iron in faeces and calcium in urine by ICPMS. In: Bioavailability '93, Karlsruhe, Germany

  36. Lowe NM, Woodhouse LR, Matel JS, King JC (2000) Am J Clin Nutr 71:523–529

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Lowe NM, Shames DM, Woodhouse LR, Matel JS, Roehl R, Saccomani MP, Toffolo G, Cobelli C, King JC (1997) Am J Clin Nutr 65:1810–1819

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Wastney ME, Angelus P, Barnes RM, Subramanian KNS (1996) Am J Physiol 271:R1452–R1459

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Ziegler EE, Serfass RE, Nelson SE, Figueroa-Colon R, Edwards BB, Houk RS, Thompson JJ (1989) J Nutr 119:1647–1653

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Van Dokkum W, de la Gueronniere V, Schaafsma G, Bouley C, Luten J, Latge C (1996) Br J Nutr 75:893–903

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Patterson KY, Veillon C, Hill AD, Moser-Veillon PB, O'Haver TC (1999) J Anal At Spectrom 14:1673–1677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Van den Ellen GHM, Schaafsma G, Muys T, Van Dokkum W (1998) Am J Clin Nutr 67:445–451

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Whittaker PG, Barrett JFR, Williams JG (1992) J Anal At Spectrom 7:109–113

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Schutte S, Vereault D, Ting BTG, Janghorbani M (1988) Analyst 113:1837–1842

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Keyes WR, Turnlund JR (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:1153–1156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Soltani-Neshan MA, Garbe-Schönberg C, Dörner K, Schaub J (1992) Isotopenpraxis 28:101–106

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Soltani-Neshan MA, Garbe-Schönberg C, Dörner K, Schaub J (1993) Akute und chronische toxiz Spurenelem, pp 61–64

  48. Buckley WT, Budac JJ, Godfrey DV, Koenig KM (1992) Biol Mass Spectrom 21:473–478

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Stürup S, Hansen M, Mølgaard C (1997) J Anal At Spectrom 12:919–923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Price RL, Kent GN, Rosman KJB, Gutteridge DH, Reeve J, Allen JP, Stuckey GA, Smith M, Guelfi G, Hickling CJ, Blakeman SL (1990) Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom 19:353–359

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Turnlund JR, Keyes WR, Scott KC, Ehrenkranz RA (1993) J Anal At Spectrom 8:983–987

    Google Scholar 

  52. Halicz L, Galy A, Belshaw NS, O'Nions RK (1999) J Anal At Spectrom 14:1835–1838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. VanHaecke F, Moens L, Dams R, Taylor PDP (1996) Anal Chem 68:567–569

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. VanHaecke F, Moens L, Dams R, Papadakis I, Taylor PDP (1997) Anal Chem 69:268–273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. VanHaecke F, Balcaen L, de Wannemacker G, Moens L (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:933–943

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Ingle C, Langford N, Harvey LJ, Dainty J, Armah C, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Sharp BL, Crews HM, Rose M, Lewis J (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:1498–1501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Stürup S (2000) J Anal At Spectrom 15:315–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Woolard D, Franks R, Smith DR (1998) J Anal At Spectrom 13:1015–1019

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Anbar AD, Roe JE, Barling J, Nealson KH (2000) Science 288:126–128

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Belshaw NS, Zhu XK, Guo Y, O'Nions RK (2000) Int J Mass Spectrom 197:191–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Marecahl CN, Telouk P, Albarede F (1999) Chem Geol 156:251–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Zhu XK, O'Nions RK, Guo Y, Belshaw NS, Rickard D (2000) Chem Geol 163:139–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Gale NH, Woodhead AP, Stos-Gale ZA, Walder A, Bowen I (1999) Int J Mass Spectrom 184:1–9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. RDAs Sotteot, Recommended dietary allowances, 10th rev, 1989, National Research Council (US), Washington

  65. Feldmann I, Jakubowski N, Thomas C, Stuewer D (1999) Fresenius J Anal Chem 365:422–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Boulyga SF, Becker JS (2001) Fresenius J Anal Chem 370:618–623

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Tanner SD, Baranov VI, Bandura DR (2002) Spectrochim Acta B 57:1361–1452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Sloth JJ, Larsen EH (2000) J Anal At Spectrom 15:669–672

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Larsen EH, Sloth JJ, Hansen M, Moesgaard S (2003) J Anal At Spectrom 18:310–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Sloth JJ, Larsen EH, Bügel S, Moesgaard S (2003) J Anal At Spectrom 18:317–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Stürup S, Unpublished results. 2003

  72. Emteborg H, Tian X, Ostermann M, Berglund M, Adams F (2000) J Anal At Spectrom 15:239–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. VanHaecke F, Moens L, Dams R, Allen LA, Georgitis S (1999) Anal Chem 71:3297–3303

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Barbaste M, Halicz L, Galy A, Medina B, Emteborg H, Adams F, Lobinski R (2001) Talanta 54:307–317

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Palaez MV, Costa-Fernandez JM, Sanz-Medel A (2002) J Anal At Spectrom 17:950–957

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Heumann KG, Gallus SM, Radlinger G, Vogl J (1998) J Anal At Spectrom 13:1001–1008

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Douglas DJ, Tanner SD (1998) Fundamental considerations in ICPMS. In: Montaser A (ed) Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Wiley–VCH, New York, pp 615–679

  78. Ingle C, Sharp BL, Horstwood MSA, Parrish RR, Lewis DJ (2003) J Anal At Spectrom 18:219–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Begley IS, Sharp BL (1994) J Anal At Spectrom 9:171–176

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Furuta N (1991) J Anal At Spectrom 6:199–203

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Stürup.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stürup, S. The use of ICPMS for stable isotope tracer studies in humans: a review. Anal Bioanal Chem 378, 273–282 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2195-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-003-2195-4

Keywords

Navigation