Determination of copper levels in serum of healthy subjects by atomic absorption spectrometry

Copper levels in serum samples of 84 healthy subjects living in southeastern Spain were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry technique. Mineralization of samples was carried out with an View the MathML source (4:1) mixture in a thermostated mineralization block. The accuracy of the method was tested by using a standard reference material. A mean recovery percentage of 104.70% was obtained. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) as a measurement of the precision of the method was lower than 5% in the concentration range considered. Mean copper concentrations were 1.092 ± 0.365 mg/l (with the range 0.304–2.000 mg/l) and 1.113 ± 0.253 mg/l (corresponding to an interval of 0.648–1.760 mg/l) for women and men, respectively. There are no significant differences between the copper levels in serum according to either sex or geography zone (P > 0.05). For example, there were no differences of copper levels in serum of subjects from coastal and mountainous zones. Estimated daily dietary intakes on copper in women and men were 1.38 and 2.10 mg Cu/day respectively.