Fairweather-Tait S J, Dainty J
Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK.
Food Addit Contam. 2002 Oct;19(10):939-47. doi: 10.1080/02652030110087474.
The bioavailability (utilization) of trace elements is very variable, depending on the characteristics of the element itself, composition of the diet, gastrointestinal conditions and other physiological factors. To derive dietary recommendations and make use of emerging information on diet-gene interactions relating to nutritional requirements for trace elements, methods for assessing bioavailability are required. The trace elements of particular interest include iron, zinc, selenium and copper because of problems of deficiency, purported links with chronic diseases, and the growing market in fortified foods and supplements. The absorption and subsequent metabolism of trace elements can be monitored using stable isotope tracers, but there are difficulties associated with this approach. Although radioisotopes offer many advantages over stable isotopes, their use is restricted due to safety and ethical issues. The difficulties and limitations of methodologies associated with labelling of trace elements in foods with stable isotopes, design of human studies to generate results that predict bioavailability, and detection and quantification of stable isotopes in biological samples are discussed.
微量元素的生物利用率（利用率）变化很大，这取决于元素本身的特性、饮食组成、胃肠道状况及其他生理因素。为了得出膳食建议并利用有关微量元素营养需求的饮食-基因相互作用的新信息，需要评估生物利用率的方法。特别受关注的微量元素包括铁、锌、硒和铜，原因在于存在缺乏问题、据称与慢性病有关联，以及强化食品和补充剂市场不断增长。微量元素的吸收及后续代谢可用稳定同位素示踪剂进行监测，但这种方法存在一些困难。尽管放射性同位素相比稳定同位素具有诸多优势，但其使用因安全和伦理问题而受到限制。本文讨论了在食品中用稳定同位素标记微量元素、设计人体研究以得出预测生物利用率的结果以及检测和定量生物样品中稳定同位素等方法所面临的困难和局限性。
