Selenium speciation in human urine samples by LC- and CE-ICP-MS-separation and identification of selenosugars

Human urine samples were analysed by a reversed-phase chromatographic system and an ion-pair chromatographic system. The chromatographic system, was connected to the ICP-MS either by a microconcentric nebulizer (MCN) in combination with a cyclonic spraychamber or by a modified direct injection nebulizer (MDIN). The sensitivity of the latter was better than the sensitivity of the MCN, which on the other hand was more robust for the analysis of samples with high concentrations of dissolved solids. Urine sample composition did not seem to change when urine was exposed to evaporation under nitrogen at ambient temperature and methanol extraction. A pre-concentration factor of 10 was achieved with this procedure. On occasions when a pre-concentration factor of 100 was obtained by lyophilsation and methanol extraction, at least 10 selenium compounds were separated in the urine sample. Urine samples were collected from two healthy volunteers who had been supplied with 1000 mug and 2000 mug of selenium, respectively, in the form of selenized yeast. When samples were spiked with 8 different standards, only two standards co-eluted with compounds in urine in both chromatographic systems: the major urinary metabolite Se-methyl-N-acetylgalactosamine and Se-methyl-N-acetylglucosamine. The presence of Se-methyl-N-acetylglucosamine in urine was verified by co-migration with the standard in capillary electrophoresis after fractionation by preparative reversed-phase chromatography. Se-methyl-N-acetylglucosamine is only a minor metabolite as its concentration was less than 2% of the concentration of Se-methyl-N-acetylgalactosamine. The presence of this metabolite in urine has, to our knowledge, not been suggested before. Trimethylselenonium, selenomethionine, Se-methylselenocysteine, Se-methylselenomethionine and selenocystamine were not detected in these samples.