Evaluation of the Extracellular Water in human body by determination of Br concentration in blood plasma

Abstract Extracellular water (ECW) is a component of body composition and an indicator of nutritional status. Oral bromide can be used for determination of ECW. After drug administration, the variation of bromine concentrations in blood plasma were determined by PIXE, and ECW was calculated. The samples were mixed with graphite, in order to overcome charging problem. Low proton current density was used, in order to avoid loss of bromine.