Percentage of carbon in human body

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Percentage of Carbon in the Human Body

Carbon as a Major Element in the Human Body

Carbon is a fundamental element in the human body, making up a significant portion of its mass. It is the second most abundant element by mass in the human body, accounting for approximately 18.5% of the total body weight . This high percentage underscores the critical role carbon plays in the structure and function of biological molecules.

Measurement Techniques for Total Body Carbon

Several methods have been developed to measure total body carbon (TBC) in vivo. One such method involves neutron inelastic scattering, which has been applied to measure TBC in various subjects. This technique is particularly useful because it is not sensitive to assumptions about the composition of lean body mass, making it suitable for studies across different age groups and health conditions . Another method uses in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA), which estimates TBC by measuring gamma ray emissions from carbon and hydrogen .

Carbon's Role in Body Composition

Carbon is a key component of body fat and protein, which are the main contributors to TBC. Bone ash and carbohydrates contribute less than 3% to the total body carbon . This distribution highlights the importance of carbon in maintaining the body's structural integrity and metabolic functions.

Carbon Monoxide and Carbon in the Human Body

While carbon itself is a major element in the human body, carbon monoxide (CO) also plays a role, albeit in much smaller quantities. Most of the body's CO is found in the blood, chemically bound to hemoglobin, with a smaller percentage located in extravascular tissues . The production and storage of CO in the body are influenced by various physiological factors, and its presence is tightly regulated to prevent toxicity .

Conclusion

In summary, carbon constitutes about 18.5% of the human body by mass, making it the second most abundant element. This significant presence is measured using advanced techniques like neutron inelastic scattering and IVNAA, which provide accurate assessments of total body carbon. Understanding the distribution and role of carbon in the body is crucial for insights into human physiology and health.

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Most relevant research papers on this topic

THE CARBON MONOXIDE BODY STORES *

Carbon monoxide (CO) stores in the body are mainly found in blood, but 10-15% is found in extravascular tissues, with most of this CO bound to hemoproteins and less than 1% physically dissolved in body fluids.

Highly Cited

1970·

149citations

·R. Coburn

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·

DOI

In vivo determination of body fat by measuring total body carbon.

The total body carbon (TBC) technique accurately determines body fat in adults of any age and health condition, with body fat and protein being the main contributors to TBC.

Non-RCTHighly Cited

1991·

89citations

·J. Kehayias et al.

The American journal of clinical nutrition·

DOI

Fraction of carbon-free body mass as oxygen is a constant body composition ratio in men.

A relatively constant ratio of total body oxygen to carbon-free body mass exists in men, aiding in understanding the atomic level of body composition and estimating specific element content in vivo.

Observational Study

1998·

2citations

·Z. Wang et al.

The Journal of nutrition·

DOI

The effect of carbon monoxide on humans.

Carbon monoxide exposure, even at low blood saturations, can cause cognitive impairment and cardiovascular system damage, requiring a reappraisal of the literature.

Literature ReviewHighly Cited

1975·

216citations

·R. D. Stewart

Annual review of pharmacology·

DOI

In vivo measurement of total body carbon using 238Pu/Be neutron sources.

In vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) accurately measures total body carbon in surgical gastroenterological patients and normal volunteers, with a precision of +/- 1.6 kg for a whole body dose of 0.3 mSv.

Non-RCTLarge Human Trial

1990·

18citations

·J. Sutcliffe et al.

Physics in medicine and biology·

DOI

Endogenous carbon monoxide production.

The rate of carbon monoxide production in young normal resting human male subjects averages 0.42 0.07 ml per hour STPD (6.1 1 per hour per kilogram), with factors such as exercise intensity and diet influencing this rate and the quantity of CO in the body stores.

Highly Cited

1970·

83citations

·R. Coburn

The New England journal of medicine·

DOI

Carbon-14 in the Biosphere and Humans

Carbon-14 measurements in blood samples show that environmental carbon-14 calculations can be inaccurate, potentially affecting human health.

1969·

40citations

·D. Harkness et al.

Nature·

DOI

Carbon monoxide and the nervous system.

Carbon monoxide exposure can cause severe central nervous system effects, with levels of 15-20% needed for a 10% reduction in behavioral or visual measures.

Literature ReviewHighly Cited

2002·

182citations

·J. Raub et al.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·

DOI

A method for in vivo determination of carbon and oxygen using prompt gamma radiations induced by 14.7-MeV neutrons.

This study presents a method for simultaneous determination of carbon and oxygen in the human body using prompt gamma radiations induced by 14.7-MeV neutrons, potentially reducing neutron radiation doses.

1990·

8citations

·C. Hollas et al.

Basic life sciences·

DOI

Total body fat mass based on the 4.4 MeV carbon peak in the in vivo prompt-gamma spectrum of the human body using241Am, Be neutrons

Prompt-gamma activation analysis (PGAA) is a feasible method for measuring total body carbon, which can provide useful body composition markers for nutritional status.

Observational Study

1998·

0citations

·K. Ellis et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry·

DOI

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