ABSTRACT
Tests of trace element status are required for assessing trace element deficiencies or excesses. Static indices that use the concentration of minerals in whole blood, blood cells, plasma, urine and other biological fluids (e.g., sweat, saliva) are often utilized, but their usefulness is questioned, especially for copper and chromium. Functional indices are mostly proteins or enzymes in which trace elements are involved. Among them, alkaline phosphatases and metallothionein for Zn, Cu,Zn-SOD for Cu, MnSOD for Mn, and glutathione peroxidase for Se are the most cited. Advantages and limitations of these markers in plasma and in blood cells (erythrocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets) are studied and discussed.
