Objective  To compare differences in serum concentration of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and manganese (Mn) among healthy Uygur, Tibetan and Han people and to provide evidences on variations in baseline concentration of the 9 essential elements for effective prevention of relevant diseases.

  Methods  We collected blood samples from gender- and age (± 3 years)-matched three groups of healthy people (n = 232 for each group): Han people in Guangdong province, Tibetan people in Tibet Autonomous Region, and Uygur people in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between May and September, 2016. After diluted with 0.1% Triton X-100 and 0.1% nitric acid, the serum were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for quantitative determinations of nine essential elements. Standard model and collision reaction pool and standard curve and internal standard calibration were adopted in the detections. Differences in serum concentrations of the 9 elements among the three groups of people were analyzed with rank sum test.

  Results  For detections of the all elements, the precisions were better than 2.0% and the standard addition recoveries ranged 97% – 103%. The differences in the serum concentrations of the elements among the three nationality groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001) except for that of magnesium. Compared to those in the Uygur/Tibetan people, the serum Na (3 148.02 mg/L vs. 3 218.87 mg/L/3 276.85 mg/L) and Cu (0.84 mg/L vs. 0.97 mg/L/1.05 mg/L) were lower but the serum Mn (18.74 μg/L vs. 14.62 μg/L/11.24 μg/L) and Se (121.48 μg/L vs. 95.53 μg/L/71.91 μg/L) were higher in the Han people. In comparison with the Han and Tibetan people, the Uygur people had higher serum Ca (112.72 mg/L vs. 102.41 mg/L and 91.86 mg/L) and Zn (1.02 mg/L vs. 0.64 mg/L and 0.61 mg/L). The Han people had a higher serum Fe (1.82 mg/L vs. 1.55 mg/L and 1.34 mg/L) than Tibetan and Uygur people. The Tibetan people had a higher serum K (206.75 mg/L vs. 174.80 mg/L and 158.83 mg/L) than Han and Uygur people.

  Conclusion  There are differences in serum concentrations of essential elements among people of different nationality and regions and relevant data should be collected among various populations for individualized disease prevention and treatment.