Trace elements are vital for a variety of functions in the brain. However, an imbalance can result in oxidative stress. It is important to ascertain the normal levels in different brain regions, as such information is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to provide baseline trace element concentrations from a South African population, as well as determine trace element differences between sex and brain regions. Samples from the caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus and hippocampus were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, sodium, strontium, vanadium and zinc were assessed. A multiple median regression model was used to determine differences between sex and regions. Twenty-nine male and 13 female cadavers from a Western Cape, South African population were included (mean age 35 years, range 19 to 45). Trace element levels were comparable to those of other populations, although magnesium was considerably lower. While there were no sex differences, significant anatomical regional differences existed; the caudate nucleus and hippocampus were the most similar, and the globus pallidus and hippocampus the most different. In conclusion, this is the first article to report the trace element concentrations of brain regions from a South African population. Low magnesium levels in the brain may be linked to a dietary deficiency, and migraines, depression and epilepsy have been linked to low magnesium levels. Future research should be directed to increase the dietary intake of magnesium.

中文翻译：

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南非尸体大脑区域的多元素分析。

微量元素对大脑的各种功能至关重要。然而，不平衡会导致氧化应激。确定不同大脑区域的正常水平很重要，因为仍然缺乏此类信息。因此，本研究旨在提供来自南非人群的基线微量元素浓度，并确定性别和大脑区域之间的微量元素差异。使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法分析来自尾状核、壳核、苍白球和海马的样品。铝、锑、砷、钡、硼、镉、钙、铬、钴、铜、铁、铅、镁、锰、汞、钼、镍、磷、钾、硒、硅、钠、锶、钒和锌分别为评估。多元中值回归模型用于确定性别和地区之间的差异。包括来自南非西开普省人口的 29 具男性和 13 具女性尸体（平均年龄 35 岁，范围 19 至 45 岁）。微量元素水平与其他人群相当，但镁含量要低得多。虽然没有性别差异，但存在显着的解剖区域差异；尾状核和海马最相似，苍白球和海马最不同。总之，这是第一篇报道南非人群大脑区域微量元素浓度的文章。大脑中镁含量低可能与饮食缺乏有关，偏头痛、抑郁和癫痫与镁含量低有关。