Contact person
Louise Helskov Jørgensen, Biochemist, PhD, Associate Professor
Louise.helskov.joergensen@rsyd.dk; https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/persons/lhjorgensen
Research aim
Research in the area of metals and other trace elements focuses on many different aspects. It can entail determination of specific reference intervals and toxic cut-off values, measuring of various elements in tissues and body fluids including development of specific methods for these measurements or use of metals as antibody tags. On-going research are primarily collaborative projects with both internal and external collaborators.
Project examples
One example of a developmental project with internal collaborators is the determination of a better measure of Zinc status in patients suspected of a deficiency state. Here we have developed a method to assess free available zinc-binding capacity in patients and is currently investigating the use as a marker of true zinc-status, as well as determination of an algorithm to determine albumin-corrected zinc values in patients.
Another example is the establishment of new, updated reference intervals for common trace elements in the Danish population using material from the KRAM (Kost Rygning Alder Motion) cohort, i.e. Diet, Smoking, Age, Exercise.
Available cohorts, infrastructures and competences
Collaborators, postdocs and PhD-students
Our primary collaborator is Professor Philippe Grandjean and Associate Professor Flemming Nielsen from Department of Environmental Health, University of Southern Denmark.
Ongoing funding
Together with Professor Ove Schaffalitzky de Muckadell we have a grant from Region of Southern Denmark.
Publication examples
- Laustsen BH, Omland Ø, Würtz ET, Jørgensen LH, Bønløkke JH. Serum selenium levels and asthma among seafood processing workers in Greenland. Int J Circumpolar Health 2021
- Jørgensen LH, Sindahl CH, Pedersen L, Nielsen F, Jensen TK, Tolstrup J, Ekholm O, Grandjean P. Reference intervals for trace elements in the general Danish population and their dependence on serum proteins. SJCLI 2021