Evaluation of Mineral Supplements for Content and Purity by Flame / Graphite Furnace AAS

Doctors, dieticians and health officials recommend a balanced diet that provides essential minerals for proper nutrition in the human body. The accurate analysis of metals in vitamin / mineral preparations and food supplements is very important. These metals can be classified into several groups – the major electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Mg), crucial to normal primary physiological processes like cellular activity and metabolism; the minor minerals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), present in lower levels to act as metabolic agents and enzyme catalysts; and the micro (trace) minerals, in low levels (Se, Cr, Mo), for less defined reactions. There is a need for an analytical tool to quantitate these elements easily and reproducibly. Ferrous gluconate is a source of iron, but can be contaminated with manganese, titanium and vanadium. Dolomite is an excellent source of calcium and magnesium, but is often contaminated with lead and silver. Zinc oxide provides an essential form of easily absorbed zinc, though the amount of cadmium and arsenic found can be a problem.