Minerals are divided into two general categories – macrominerals (or major minerals) and microminerals (often called trace minerals) – based on the quantity in which they are found in the body.
Microminerals are frequently referred to as ‘trace elements’ because they are present in the body in such small quantities. However they have critically important roles to play in human nutrition.
The microminerals are iron, zinc, manganese, fluorine, cooper, cobalt, iodine, selenium, chromium, vanadium and molybdenum.
They are usually required in amounts less than 100 mg per day and the total body content of these minerals is less than 5 grams.
For example, a macrominerals iron is needed to form the oxygen-transporting compounds hemoglobin and myoglobine and is also found in a number of other compounds involved in normal tissue function.
For iodine, it is part of thyroxine, the hormone made by the thyroid gland that is responsible for regulating the basal metabolic rate.
While zinc helps form a large number of enzymes, many of which function in energy metabolism and in wound healing. Inadequate dietary intake of zinc causes a variety of health problems.
Copper helps release energy and plays a role in melanin, collagen, elastin and red blood cell production. Fluoride is part of bone and tooth structure. Molybdenum functions in protein synthesis, metabolism and growth.
Some of macrominerals specific roles have not yet been identified.
Definition of microminerals
