Trace element

The trace elements, sometimes called temporary bioelements, are bioelements present in small amounts in living beings and both their absence and excess can be harmful to the body, becoming hepatotoxic. In addition to the four elements that make up most of life (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen), there is a wide variety of essential chemical elements. Plants absorb them from dissolved minerals in the soil, and from there they pass to heterotrophs. It is known that there are large organisms that consume soil (geophagy) and visit mineral deposits, salt, for example, to obtain the necessary trace elements in their diet.

Trace elements have at least five functions in living organisms. Some are an integral part of the catalytic centers in which the reactions necessary for life take place. Trace elements participate in the attraction of substrate molecules and their conversion into specific end products. Certain trace elements give up or accept electrons in oxidation or reduction reactions. Several trace elements have structural functions, providing stability and a three-dimensional structure to certain important biological molecules, others exert regulatory functions. They control important biological processes through certain actions, including hormonal activation, the binding of molecules to their receptor sites on cell membranes, and the induction of the expression of some genes.

List of items for life

Periodic table of dietary elements

Essentials

The following elements are considered trace elements:

• Boro. Maintenance of cell wall structure in vegetables.
• Chrome. It enhances insulin action and favors glucose entry to cells. Its content in body organs decreases with age. Berries, algae, lean meats, vegetables, olives and citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruits, etc.), the liver and kidneys are excellent chrome suppliers.
• Cobalt. Central component of vitamin B₁₂.
• Copper. It stimulates the immune system. We can get it in green vegetables, fish, peas, lentils, liver, molluscs and crustaceans.
• Fluor. It accumulates in bones and teeth giving them greater resistance.
• Iron. It is part of the hemoglobin molecule and cytochromes that form part of the respiratory chain. Its ease of oxidation allows you to transport oxygen through the blood by combining with hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin. It is required in minimum quantities because it is reused, it is not eliminated. Their lack causes anemia.
• Manganese. The manganese has both a structural and enzymatic role. It is present in different enzymes, highlighting manganese superoxide (Mn-SOD), which catalyzes superoxide dismutation.
• Molybdenum. It is in an important amount in sea water in the form of molybdates (MoO)₄^2-), and living beings can easily absorb it in this way. It has the function of transferring oxygen atoms to water.
• Nickel. It acts as a bio-catalizer, participates in glucid metabolism, promotes iron absorption and stabilizes DNA and RNA
• Selenium. Selenium dioxide is an appropriate catalyst for oxidation, hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of organic compounds.
• Silice
• Vanadio. Vanadium is an essential element in some agencies. In humans its essentiality is not demonstrated, although there are vaadium compounds that imitate and enhance insulin activity.
• Yodo. iodine is an essential chemical element. The thyroid gland manufactures thyroxine and triyodothyronin hormones, which contain iodine.
• Zinc. Zinc is an essential chemical element for people: it intervenes in the metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids, stimulates the activity of approximately 100 enzymes, collaborates in the good functioning of the immune system, it is necessary for the healing of the wounds, intervenes in perceptions of taste and smell and in the synthesis of DNA.

For other elements, such as lithium, tin or cadmium, their essentiality is not fully accepted; even from the above list the essentiality of bromine and boron is not clear.

There are other elements that are in greater amounts in humans, so they are not called trace elements. In order of abundance (by weight) in the human body: sulfur, potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium.

The above elements are essential in humans, they are called microelements and they are found at 0.05% to 1%; there are elements that are only in certain living beings. For example, tungsten is essential in some microorganisms.

Each element has an optimal range of concentrations within which the organism, under those conditions, functions properly; depending on the element this range can be more or less wide. The body stops working properly both by presenting a deficiency or by presenting an excess in one of these elements.

Functions of the most important trace elements for our body. The brief analysis of these micro minerals and their importance in the human organism.

Cobalt

The function of this mineral is closely linked to the production of testosterone and the enzyme system.

In the synthesis of red blood cells, vitamins are required, especially vitamin B12. This vitamin (also called cobalamin in medical terms, because it has a core made of cobalt) is used in all cells during cell reproduction.

In this way, the great importance of cobalt for cell maturation and growth is manifested. In addition, cobalt, always in conjunction with vitamin B12, favors the intestinal absorption of iron and, as a component of some enzymes, is involved in protein synthesis. Likewise, vitamin B12 seems to improve the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland.

Other functions include: activating the combustion of sugars and lowering their concentration in the bloodstream, and regulating the nervous system, as it balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.

The daily needs of our body for cobalt is one microgram of vitamin B12. This amount can be found in the liver, as it generally stores about a thousand times this amount.

Copper

Among the main functions of this trace element is its participation in the synthesis of red blood cells, assisting in the fixation of iron in the red pigment of the blood (hemoglobin). In this way, iron cannot be deposited in hemoglobin without the help of copper. Thus, a copper deficiency causes anemia even if the body has enough iron.

Copper is also necessary for the formation of pigments and providing lustrous color to skin and hair. Copper deficiency contributes to the premature appearance of gray hair.

This trace element is necessary for the metabolism of proteins, the formation of normal connective tissue and for the synthesis of lipids present in the brain. It is also found in most antibodies, which is why it is especially important for our immune system. Likewise, copper favors healing processes and is responsible for the optimal absorption of vitamin C.

Today our food contains less copper than in the past. However, our daily needs are met thanks to a varied diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, cereals or meat products. Breast and cow's milk have very small amounts of copper. No doubt this is the reason why nature has arranged for infants to be born with a reserve of copper. This reserve is located in the newborn's skin and is five to ten times higher than the amount of copper in an adult, which is enough for the first six months of life, until the baby begins to eat on its own. her. The newborn needs copper for the synthesis of enzymes and for the formation of blood cells. With age, the copper reserve gradually decreases.

The daily dose of copper ranges from two to three milligrams.

Chrome

Chromium is distinguished by its prominent role in sugar metabolism. It constitutes the central molecule of a substance called glucose tolerance factor that increases the power of insulin. On the other hand, FTG reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood.

Chromium is closely related to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, helping to maintain blood sugar levels. In other words, it ensures that the blood sugar value after eating does not rise sharply, nor does it drop too quickly.

Insulin and its counterpart, the hormone glucagon, jointly regulate lipid metabolism. For this reason, chromium also plays a very important role with respect to the level of cholesterol in the blood. Likewise, it is considered that chromium is involved in the growth of the fetus, and has a decisive influence on the ocular cornea.

The amount of chromium needed daily ranges from 0.05 to 0.2 milligrams.

Fluoride

One of the functions of fluoride is to harden dental enamel, thus reinforcing its resistance to cavities. It also inhibits the accumulation of bacteria in the oral cavity, preventing the destruction of teeth.

Lack of fluoride is responsible for bone instability and promotes osteoporosis.

Studies conducted in the United States blame fluoride for Alzheimer's disease, so you should be careful not to use it in excess.

The daily dose of fluoride is one milligram.

Iron

Our body needs iron for the synthesis of blood pigment. We have approximately one kilo of hemoglobin in our body. As in a recycling process, it is used continuously in order to renew the blood cells every 120 days.

Without iron, it is not possible to transplant oxygen from the lungs to the different organs, such as the heart, muscles, liver or brain. The thyroid gland, the central nervous system, the control of body temperature and the defenses against microorganisms cannot function without iron.

This trace element is essential for some brain functions, such as learning ability. It is found in the enzymes of the oxidative metabolism of the respiratory chain in which it participates in the combustion processes of nutritional substances, increases resistance to diseases, prevents states of fatigue, cures and prevents anemia derived from a lack of iron. And it is very healthy for skin, hair and nails.

The precise daily dose for an adult is between 12 and 20 milligrams, although we must keep in mind that the child up to six months of age, stores in his body the iron he has received from the mother. After this first semester, the child needs to receive iron from a vegetable source since it is known that milk is poor in this mineral, which makes it advisable, after the first semester of the child's life, to use vegetable juices, broths legumes, cereals, egg yolk, etc.

Manganese

It is one of the trace elements essential for life, since it is one of the materials that the body uses to manufacture its enzymes. If female mammals lack enough manganese, they abort or give birth to young that die from being unable to suckle.

This element helps the pancreas in its function and in the correct use of glucose. It is a component of the bones, it is the pigment that binds calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is an active part in the production of thyroxine and sex hormones. It is important in the production of cholesterol and in the disintegration and formation of fats. Strengthens the cartilage of the bones and the points where the muscles meet the bones.

It is a component of the nervous system. It works on the enzymes for the absorption of vitamin B1, biotin, vitamin C and choline, also in the prevention of sterility, improves memory, concentration and reduces stress.

The daily need for this element is estimated at about 2 to 3 milligrams.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is a trace element that acts decisively in the prevention of gout, as well as in the concentration of uric acid in the body. It is responsible for the resulting protein waste products being converted to uric acid and excreted. In this way, it prevents annoying deposits of uric acid crystals from occurring in the joints, coenobial capsules and tendons.

Molybdenum activates liver enzymes that, for example, break down alcohol. Due to its neutralizing property, it has a favorable action on the immune system in our defenses against infections and allergies.

Molybdenum also releases iron for the transport of oxygen in the blood, and is decisive in the metabolism of sulfur in the body, thus contributing to the formation of new skin cells. It also acts as a natural slower of the aging process and collaborates closely with fluoride within our body, in which it contributes to keeping dental enamel healthy and the deposit of calcium in the bones.

The precise daily amount of this trace element is not known exactly. But it is thought, however, that a daily intake between 150 and 500 micrograms is sufficient.

Nickel

Its functions are to increase the action of different hormones, such as insulin, the hormone that regulates glucose in the blood. It exerts a stabilizing action on blood coagulation and activates a series of enzymes that participate in the metabolism of carbohydrates and in obtaining energy. It also favors the absorption of iron and decreases the action of adrenaline, the stress hormone.

Exact data on the daily needs of this trace element are not yet available. It is believed that the daily intake of an adult could range between 0.2 and 0.9 milligrams.

Selenium

Selenium, being a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, in a similar way to vitamin E, protects the body from free radicals: Substances present in food and in the environment that react with oxygen in the body transforming into aggressive and highly reactive particles. This aggressive nature of the radicals has its reason for being, since when they are located inside the phagocytes, they help to attack and destroy the pathogenic agents captured by this cell. However, free radicals not only attack harmful microorganisms, but also destroy healthy cells, and even penetrate the cell nucleus. The cells can then die or have a chance of becoming cancer cells.

Selenium protects the body not only from free radicals, but also from harmful environmental radiation and viral and bacterial infections, thus reinforcing our defense system. It acts against chemical allergies, increases fertility and promotes liver, muscle and pancreatic cell function. Together with vitamin E, it helps the body eliminate toxic elements such as lead, cadmium and mercury.

Research is showing that there is an inverse relationship between getting cancer and the amount of selenium in the body; cancer patients were found to have a very low level of selenium in their blood. On the other hand, in regions that do not have much selenium in their diet, three times more liver and heart diseases and reproductive disorders were found than in areas that consume a lot of selenium.

The daily need for the trace element is between 0.05 to 0.15 milligrams for an adult. Vitamin E ingested in the diet significantly reduces the need for selenium.

Silicon

This mineral can strengthen bones and speed up the healing of fractures. Just as it also collaborates in good skin, nail and hair function. It also helps with filtration due to the lack of this mineral.

Iodine

It is used by the thyroid gland to manufacture thyroxine or thyroid hormone, which is an amino acid discovered by Kindall and whose molecule iodine is a part of.

Due to a lack of iodine, this gland cannot synthesize said hormone, which plays an important role in the development of the organism, on the one hand, and, on the other, in the regulation of metabolism, in other words, the set of physicochemical exchanges necessary for cellular oxidation, combustion, detoxification and circulation at the level of the body's tissues.

There is a certain relationship between iodine and vitamin A. This vitamin slows down the activity of the thyroid gland and decreases the need for iodine. For its part, the thyroid gland is involved in the transformation process in the intestinal mucosa of carotene into vitamin A.

The daily need for this metalloid to satisfy the synthesis of the thyroid hormone and cover the daily losses due to excretion has been estimated at 2 micrograms per kilo of body weight, that is, 140 micrograms for 70 kilos of weight. Although some authors extend this need to 0.2 milligrams daily.

Zinc

It acts in a certain way as a traffic policeman that monitors and regulates the course of the body's processes, as well as the conservation of the enzymatic system and cells.

It is a component of at least 160 enzymes and hormones, it regulates the proper functioning of protein and lipid metabolism. It participates in the formation of insulin, is of vital importance for the immune system and stabilizes the cell membrane. This element also acts as a regulator of prostate activity; In other words, having a sufficient amount of zinc guarantees fertility in man and, therefore, his ability to reproduce.

Zinc improves the body's own defenses, especially as we age. Promotes tissue growth, especially hair. It reacts with heavy metals such as cadmic, lead or mercury, with which it annuls its toxicity. It is also responsible for the transport and absorption of vitamin A.

Recently, some curious facts have been discovered about its great importance in brain functions.

The human body's needs for zinc are around 15 milligrams for adolescents and adults.