558
1985) have prompted physically active individuals to consider chromium as a limiting nutrient for promotion of physical fitness and health. The effect of chromium
supplementation on weight loss and glucose metabolism in mildly obese women
has been examined (Grant et al. 1997). Although most diets may not provide adequate chromium, the use of chromium supplements does not provide impetus to
body built up and physical performance (Althuis et al. 2002; Lukaski 1999, 2004).
Besides the seafood (shellfish, mussels, oysters), other sources of chromium include
vegetables such as broccoli, potato, green beans, whole grain products, fruits such
as apples, bananas, grapes, as well as milk and milk products.
Copper Copper plays a significant role in various metabolic processes in the body
and allows several critical enzymes to function properly. Copper is the third most
abundant trace mineral in the body after iron and zinc and the total amount in the
body ranges between 75 and 100 mg. It is present in every tissue of the body, but
stored primarily in the liver, and to a lesser amount in the brain, heart, kidney, and
muscles. It is a constituent of various enzymes and is necessary for the haematologic and neurologic systems (Tan et al. 2006) as well as for growth and formation
of bone, and myelin sheaths in the nervous systems. It helps in the iron absorption
(Chandra 1990), incorporation of iron in haemoglobin, absorption of iron from the
gastrointestinal tract, and transfer of iron from tissues to the plasma (Malhotra
1998). Copper deficiency is associated with alterations in cholesterol metabolism,
bone health, cardiovascular risk, immune function, and frequency of disease infections (Araya et al. 2007; Gupta and Gupta 2014), and decreased Fe levels in some
human tissues (Gupta and Gupta 2014). Biliary obstruction increases the excretion
of copper through the kidney and intestinal wall (Murray et al. 2000). Although,
copper is essential for human health but its consumption in excess amount may be
harmful. Some good sources of copper nutrient include cocoa, liver, kidney, oysters, peas, raisins, betel leaves, areca nuts and other nuts, molluscs and shellfish
(Gupta and Gupta 2014). Further, soft water contains more copper than hard water
and water from the tap contains more copper than reservoir water (Soetan and
Oyewole 2009).
Manganese Manganese is involved in glycoprotein and proteoglycan synthesis
and is a component of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase. As a co–factor in phosphohydrolases and phosphotransferases, Mn is involved in the synthesis of proteoglycans in cartilage (Murray et al. 2000), bone and cartilage development (Leach
1988; Saltman and Strause 1993); and wound healing through stimulatory and antioxidative activity (Marrotte et al. 2010), as a part of enzymes involved in urea formation, pyruvate metabolism and the galacto transferase of connective tissue
biosynthesis (Nielsen 1998). It activates many important enzyme systems and is
required for the synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides, such as chondroitin sulphate, to form the matrices of bones and egg shells. Manganese deficiency may
result in lameness, enlarged hock joints, and shortened legs in pigs; leg deformities
with over–knuckling in cattle, perosis or slipped tendon in chicks, poults and ducklings; and nutritional chondrodystrophy in chick embryos. Beside these, skeletal
deformities and defects in shell quality occur when the manganese intake is inadeK. Sharma et al.
1985) have prompted physically active individuals to consider chromium as a limiting nutrient for promotion of physical fitness and health. The effect of chromium
supplementation on weight loss and glucose metabolism in mildly obese women
has been examined (Grant et al. 1997). Although most diets may not provide adequate chromium, the use of chromium supplements does not provide impetus to
body built up and physical performance (Althuis et al. 2002; Lukaski 1999, 2004).
Besides the seafood (shellfish, mussels, oysters), other sources of chromium include
vegetables such as broccoli, potato, green beans, whole grain products, fruits such
as apples, bananas, grapes, as well as milk and milk products.
Copper Copper plays a significant role in various metabolic processes in the body
and allows several critical enzymes to function properly. Copper is the third most
abundant trace mineral in the body after iron and zinc and the total amount in the
body ranges between 75 and 100 mg. It is present in every tissue of the body, but
stored primarily in the liver, and to a lesser amount in the brain, heart, kidney, and
muscles. It is a constituent of various enzymes and is necessary for the haematologic and neurologic systems (Tan et al. 2006) as well as for growth and formation
of bone, and myelin sheaths in the nervous systems. It helps in the iron absorption
(Chandra 1990), incorporation of iron in haemoglobin, absorption of iron from the
gastrointestinal tract, and transfer of iron from tissues to the plasma (Malhotra
1998). Copper deficiency is associated with alterations in cholesterol metabolism,
bone health, cardiovascular risk, immune function, and frequency of disease infections (Araya et al. 2007; Gupta and Gupta 2014), and decreased Fe levels in some
human tissues (Gupta and Gupta 2014). Biliary obstruction increases the excretion
of copper through the kidney and intestinal wall (Murray et al. 2000). Although,
copper is essential for human health but its consumption in excess amount may be
harmful. Some good sources of copper nutrient include cocoa, liver, kidney, oysters, peas, raisins, betel leaves, areca nuts and other nuts, molluscs and shellfish
(Gupta and Gupta 2014). Further, soft water contains more copper than hard water
and water from the tap contains more copper than reservoir water (Soetan and
Oyewole 2009).
Manganese Manganese is involved in glycoprotein and proteoglycan synthesis
and is a component of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase. As a co–factor in phosphohydrolases and phosphotransferases, Mn is involved in the synthesis of proteoglycans in cartilage (Murray et al. 2000), bone and cartilage development (Leach
1988; Saltman and Strause 1993); and wound healing through stimulatory and antioxidative activity (Marrotte et al. 2010), as a part of enzymes involved in urea formation, pyruvate metabolism and the galacto transferase of connective tissue
biosynthesis (Nielsen 1998). It activates many important enzyme systems and is
required for the synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides, such as chondroitin sulphate, to form the matrices of bones and egg shells. Manganese deficiency may
result in lameness, enlarged hock joints, and shortened legs in pigs; leg deformities
with over–knuckling in cattle, perosis or slipped tendon in chicks, poults and ducklings; and nutritional chondrodystrophy in chick embryos. Beside these, skeletal
deformities and defects in shell quality occur when the manganese intake is inadeK. Sharma et al.