Stable heavy isotopes in human health

Applications of heavy stable isotopes in the field of human health are rather limited compared with applications employing radioactive isotope tracers. The elements reviewed in this paper encompass zinc, copper, iron, calcium, selenium and lead. Most research for the first five metals has addressed metabolic aspects, specifically fractional absorption ("bioavailability"). Lead isotopes, although employed for pioneering pharmacokinetic modelling research in the early 1970s, have not enjoyed widespread acceptance until more recent times. An example is given of the use of lead isotopes to detect changes to blood lead from dietary sources and the contribution of skeletal lead to blood lead.