Analytical instruments for stable isotopic tracers in mineral metabolism.

Thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) is the best of four currently used techniques for obtaining results of high accuracy and precision in studies of metal metabolism. TIMS is also the most general technique because it allows measurements of all the metallic elements of interest. The highest absolute sensitivity as well as the ability to determine multiple elements are simultaneously obtained with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Current results with this technique show that, although element quantification may be done with acceptable accuracy and precision, use of ICP-MS in metabolic studies at low levels of isotopic labels may be limited. The most favorable elements for study using ICP-MS in metabolic studies appear to be Mg, Zn and possibly Fe. Use of this technique is limited further by isobaric interferences from plasma jet ion molecule reactions, and metabolic studies of Ca are particularly limited. Acceptable levels of accuracy and precision have been obtained from fast atom bombardment-secondary ion mass spectrometry (FAB-SIMS), which has allowed these approaches to be used in metabolic studies of ZN, Fe and Ca, but the approaches are ultimately limited by hydride isobaric interferences. Both FAB-SIMS and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of metal chelates have the advantage of using widely available instrumentation. GC-MS of metal chelates has been shown to be useful in studies of Cr and Se metabolism and for the determination of a number of other metals. Values of accuracy and precision from use of this approach have been satisfactory.