To improve the nutritional support for burn patients, we evaluated the alterations of selenium, zinc and copper (Se, Zn and Cu) and their possible contributions to an unbalanced antioxidant response to burn injury. These trace elements and the related antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were studied both in plasma (or serum) and tissues of 20% total body surface area (TBSA) burned rats for 10 days. While plasma Se and serum Zn levels significantly decreased 6 h after burn injury, serum Cu levels increased after 1 day and remained elevated the following 9 days. Selenium levels increased in kidney but decreased progressively in liver. The hepatic Zn and Cu concentrations followed a biphasic increase following burn injury. During the first day, GPx activity decreased in plasma and remained unchanged in the organs, except for a moderate diminution in the liver. Liver Cu/Zn SOD activity increased from 6 h to 4 days. In summary, following burn injury, copper and zinc were redistributed to the liver and selenium to the kidney with non-detectable changes in the muscle and brain. Changes in antioxidant enzyme activities following burn injury were significant mainly in the plasma. Early combined antioxidant supplementation to maintain and restore antioxidant status in burn patients requires further study.