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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Immunity and Disease Prevention Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212805
Title: Accelerator mass spectrometry in the study of vitamin and mineral metabolism in humans

Author
item DE MOURA, FABIANA - UC DAVIS
item Burri, Betty
item CLIFFORD, ANDREW - UC DAVIS

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2007
Publication Date: 6/1/2007
Citation: De Moura, F., Burri, B.J., Clifford, A.J. Accelerator mass spectrometry in the study of vitamin and mineral metabolism in humans. 2007. Handbook of VITAMINS, 4th edition CRC Press, Taylor & Francis pp.545-557. . Book Chapter.

Interpretive Summary: Accelerator mass spectrometry uses a nuclear accelerator to separate and measure atoms, instead of counting radioactive decay particles. This makes it much more sensitive than traditional methods for measuring radioisotopes, such as gamma counting and liquid scintillation counting. It can be used to measure the ratio of long-lived radioisotopes such as carbon-14 and calcium-41 in comparison to their natural isotopes carbon-12 and calcium-40 making it useful in biochemical and physiological research. The detection sensitivity and small sample size requirements of accelerator mass spectrometry satisfied both the analytical and ethical requirements for metabolic tracer applications in human subjects. This chapter reports the historical background, methodology, and nutrition science uses of accelerator mass spectrometry.

Technical Abstract: Accelerator mass spectrometry is an isotopic ratio method that can estimate the concentrations of long-lived radioisotopes such as carbon-14 and calcium-41, making it useful in biochemical and physiological research. It is capable of measuring radio-labeled nutrients and their metabolites in attomol (10-18) concentrations in milligram sized samples, so it can be used for human nutrition. The detection sensitivity and small sample size requirements of accelerator mass spectrometry satisfied both the analytical and ethical requirements for metabolic tracer applications in human subjects. This chapter reports the historical background, methodology, and nutrition science uses of accelerator mass spectrometry.