TRACE MINERALS

Minerals that occur in tiny amounts or traces. They play a major role in health, since even minute portions of them can powerfully affect health. They are essential in the assimilation and utilization of vitamins and other nutrients. They aid in digestion and provide the catalyst for many hormones, enzymes and essential body functions and reactions. they also aid in replacing electrolytes lost through heavy perspiration or extended diarrhea and protects against toxic reaction and heavy metal poisoning.

OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS

Numerous mineral elements have been suggested to be essential nutrients for humans based on a few gross observations in one or two species of animals by one or two research groups. However, many of the changes described as evidence for essentiality were not very marked, were not necessarily indicative of a suboptimal biological function, or were obtained under less than satisfactory experimental conditions. Specific biochemical functions have not been defined for any of these elements. Most likely none of these mineral elements, which include the following, are of nutritional concern if intakes are near those in a typical, well-balanced diet.