title: The effect of age and gender on 38 chemical element contents in human iliac crest investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis.
abstract: METHODS
  To understand the role of major, minor, and trace elements in the etiology of bone diseases including osteoporosis, it is necessary to determine the normal levels and age-related changes of bone chemical elements.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of age and gender on 38 chemical element contents in intact iliac crest of 84 apparently healthy 15-55 years old women (n=38) and men (n=46) was investigated by neutron activation analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean values (M+/-SEM) for mass fraction (on dry weight basis) of Ca, Cl, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Sr, and Zn for both female and male taken together were Ca - 169+/-3g/kg, Cl - 1490+/-43 mg/kg, Co - 0.0073+/-0.0024 mg/kg, Fe - 177+/-24 mg/kg, K - 1820+/-79 mg/kg, Mg - 1840+/-48 mg/kg, Mn - 0.316+/-0.013 mg/kg, Na - 4970+/-87 mg/kg, P - 79.7+/-1.5 g/kg, Rb - 1.89+/-0.22 mg/kg, Sr - 312+/-15 mg/kg, and Zn - 65.9+/-3.4 mg/kg, respectively. The upper limit of mean contents of Cs, Eu, Hg, Sb, Sc, and Se were Cs < or = 0.09 mg/kg, Eu < or = 0.005 mg/kg, Hg < or = 0.005 mg/kg, Sb < or = 0.004 mg/kg, Sc < or = 0.001 mg/kg, and Se < or = 0.1mg/kg, respectively. In all bone samples the contents of Ag, As, Au, Ba, Br, Cd, Ce, Cr, Gd, Hf, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, and Zr were under detection limits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ca, Mg, and P contents decrease with age, regardless of gender. Higher Ca, Mg, P, and Sr mass fractions as well as lower Fe content are typical of female iliac crest as compared to those in male bone.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaichick
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaichick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000737:chemistry*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements