title: Selected ultratrace elements in total parenteral nutrition solutions.
abstract: Ultratrace elements are potentially essential (eg. boron, molybdenum, nickel, and vanadium) or toxic (eg, aluminum and cadmium) in humans. Long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients can inadvertently receive significant amounts of ultratrace elements present as contaminants in TPN solutions. We determined the intake of selected ultratrace elements from a standard TPN solution and compared it with the amount reported to be absorbed from food in normal subjects. Contamination of TPN solutions with ultratrace elements was widespread and variable. The daily intakes of Mo, Ni, V. and Cd from this contamination were comparable to the amounts reported to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract in normal subjects. Al intake was high; B intake was low, approximately 10% of the amount absorbed by normal subjects. Thus, TPN solutions are contaminated with significant amounts of ultratrace elements. The biological significance of the intravenous infusion of these ultratrace elements is unclear and requires further investigation, particularly in home TPN patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: Y N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Berner
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Shuler
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flombaum
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Farkouh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shike
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D001895:Boron / Q000032:analysis; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000032:analysis; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000592:standards*; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D014639:Vanadium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D002104:Cadmium; D014639:Vanadium; D009532:Nickel; D008982:Molybdenum; D000535:Aluminum; D001895:Boron