Sixty-two subjects (31 men with colon cancer) participated in this study. The analysis of elements in the nails was performed by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) technique. The results showed that fifteen elements were quantified, including the following: S, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, and Br. We have found that there were significant differences in the concentrations of elements Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Se between normal subjects and men with colon cancer (p < 0.05). We conclude that TXRF is a technique suitable for elemental analysis in human nail samples. The concentration of elements Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Se could be among the factors used for the diagnosis of colon cancer risk in men.

62 名受试者（31 名患有结肠癌的男性）参与了这项研究。通过全反射X射线荧光（TXRF）技术对指甲中的元素进行分析。结果表明，量化了 15 种元素，包括：S、P、K、Ca、Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Se 和 Br。我们发现，正常人和结肠癌患者的元素Ca、Cr、Fe、Cu、Zn、As和Se的浓度存在显着差异（p  < 0.05）。我们得出结论，TXRF 是一种适用于人体指甲样本元素分析的技术。元素 Ca、Cr、Fe、Cu、Zn、As 和 Se 的浓度可能是用于诊断男性结肠癌风险的因素之一。