330
It is important to remember that essential elements can also be toxic. It all depends
on the amount that is taken into the body. The most commonly used division of
minerals according to the needs of the human body is as follows: (a) electrolytes, (b)
macrominerals, and (c) microminerals or trace elements, although no mineral can be
excluded from the diet and defined as less necessary.
11.5.1 Mineral Elements
Minerals are inorganic substances. They are naturally found in soil and water, and
from there they reach the plant organism. Many minerals are essential substances,
so they belong to substances that the human (and animal) organism must take in
from food or drink from the outside. Through intake of food and by drinking, they
reach the human body in much larger quantities than vitamins. In adults, minerals
make up as much as 4% of body weight. Most of them are in the bones. Macrominerals
(Greek macros = large) include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Microminerals (Greek mikros = small) include those found in very small amounts
in our body. These are iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), copper (Cu), manganese
(Mn), fluorine (F), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), arsenic),
nickel (Ni), lithium (Li), vanadium (Va), silicon (Si), and boron (B).
Copper (Cu, Cu
+
, Cu
2+
; lat. Cyprium) Copper is considered one of the essential
trace elements in humans, animals, and many plants. The body of an adult contains
75–150 mg of copper. More than half of the copper in the human body is part of
muscles and bones. Its concentration is highest in the liver, brain, kidneys, and
heart.
Boron (B, lat. Borum) At the beginning of the last century, boron was proven to be
an essential mineral for plants, but its significance for humans has only recently
been established. Wrinkles are everywhere in the human body, but their highest
concentrations are in the bones and tooth enamel.
Zinc (Zn, lat. Zincum) Zinc has been known as an essential trace element for
plants, animals, and humans since 1930. The average adult has between 1.5 and 3 g
of zinc, of which about 60% is found in muscles, 30% in bones, and about 6% in the
skin. The highest concentrations of zinc are found in the prostate and sperm of men,
as well as in leukocytes and erythrocytes. High concentrations of zinc are also found
in the retina of the eye, liver, kidneys, and hair.
Fluoride (Fluoride, F, F-; lat. Fluo) Although fluoride is not considered an essential nutrient, it plays a very important role for bones and teeth and is therefore considered beneficial to humans. Fluoride is found in bones, teeth, the thyroid gland
and skin. The average adult organism contains about 2.6 g of fluoride.
V. I. Petropulos and B. Balabanova
It is important to remember that essential elements can also be toxic. It all depends
on the amount that is taken into the body. The most commonly used division of
minerals according to the needs of the human body is as follows: (a) electrolytes, (b)
macrominerals, and (c) microminerals or trace elements, although no mineral can be
excluded from the diet and defined as less necessary.
11.5.1 Mineral Elements
Minerals are inorganic substances. They are naturally found in soil and water, and
from there they reach the plant organism. Many minerals are essential substances,
so they belong to substances that the human (and animal) organism must take in
from food or drink from the outside. Through intake of food and by drinking, they
reach the human body in much larger quantities than vitamins. In adults, minerals
make up as much as 4% of body weight. Most of them are in the bones. Macrominerals
(Greek macros = large) include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur.
Microminerals (Greek mikros = small) include those found in very small amounts
in our body. These are iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), copper (Cu), manganese
(Mn), fluorine (F), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), arsenic),
nickel (Ni), lithium (Li), vanadium (Va), silicon (Si), and boron (B).
Copper (Cu, Cu
+
, Cu
2+
; lat. Cyprium) Copper is considered one of the essential
trace elements in humans, animals, and many plants. The body of an adult contains
75–150 mg of copper. More than half of the copper in the human body is part of
muscles and bones. Its concentration is highest in the liver, brain, kidneys, and
heart.
Boron (B, lat. Borum) At the beginning of the last century, boron was proven to be
an essential mineral for plants, but its significance for humans has only recently
been established. Wrinkles are everywhere in the human body, but their highest
concentrations are in the bones and tooth enamel.
Zinc (Zn, lat. Zincum) Zinc has been known as an essential trace element for
plants, animals, and humans since 1930. The average adult has between 1.5 and 3 g
of zinc, of which about 60% is found in muscles, 30% in bones, and about 6% in the
skin. The highest concentrations of zinc are found in the prostate and sperm of men,
as well as in leukocytes and erythrocytes. High concentrations of zinc are also found
in the retina of the eye, liver, kidneys, and hair.
Fluoride (Fluoride, F, F-; lat. Fluo) Although fluoride is not considered an essential nutrient, it plays a very important role for bones and teeth and is therefore considered beneficial to humans. Fluoride is found in bones, teeth, the thyroid gland
and skin. The average adult organism contains about 2.6 g of fluoride.
V. I. Petropulos and B. Balabanova