Comparison of Essential Trace Elements in Blood of Patients Receiving Ramathibodi Standard Parenteral Nutrition with Ramatrace or a Commercial Formular
Chulaporn Roongpisuthipong MD, ABN*, Jiraporn Chiaovit MS**, Sriwatana Songchitsomboon DSc**, Busba Chindavijak PhD***
Affiliation : * Division of Nutrition and Biochemical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital ** Research Center, Ramathibodi Hospital *** Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mahidol University
Objective : Commercially intravenous trace element product is very expensive compared to Ramatrace. There-
fore, the present research was designed to compare the levels of zinc, copper, chromium and manganese in the
blood of patients receiving Ramathibodi Standard Parenteral Nutrition (STD) containing the Ramatrace or
the commercial product.
Materials and Methods : Two groups of patients receiving STD were recruited. Group 1 (19 males and 11
females) received Ramatrace and Group 2 (19 males and 11 females) received a commercial product. Blood
samples on day 0, day3 and day10 were measured for zinc, copper, chromium and manganese levels by atomic
absorption spectrophotometer (model 3100, Perkin Elmer).
Results : The present results showed that levels of zinc, copper, chromium and manganese were not signifi-
cantly different between the two groups. On day 0, day 3 and day 10, the levels of zinc, copper and manganese
in the blood of both groups were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Blood chromium levels of Group 1 were
significantly increased from day 0 (0.14 + 0.02 µg/dL) to day 3 (0.23 + 0.02 µg/dL) but there was no
significant difference between day 3 and day 10. In Group 2, the blood levels of chromium from day 0 to day 10
were significantly increased.
Conclusion : In patients receiving STD, Ramatrace could improve the levels of zinc, copper, chromium and
manganese as well as the commercial product. This may be one way to reduce the cost of treatment.
Keywords : Trace elements, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, Manganese, Ramatrace
