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Phosphorus (P, PO 4
3−
, phosphate; lat. Phosphorus) Phosphorus is the most
abundant element in the body after calcium. In the human body, it is approximately
1% of total body weight. It is present in every cell, but it is mostly found in bones
and teeth (about 85% of the total phosphorus present).
Iron (Fe, Fe
2+
, Fe
3+
; lat. Ferrum) Although iron is relatively abundant in the
Earth’s crust, the human body weighing 70 kg contains only 3–4 g of this mineral.
About two-thirds are found in the blood. The therapeutic use of iron dates back
several thousand years.
Germanium (Ge, lat. Germanium) Germanium, like silicon, is considered by
many to be a mineral responsible for the proper mineralization of bones but also an
essential antioxidant element. Some authors point out that germanium is actually
the key to the action of garlic, ginseng, and medicinal mushrooms (such as shitake
mushroom).
Chromium (Cr, Cr
3+
, Cr
6+
; lat. Chromium) Chromium is an essential microelement. In nature, it is found in three forms which is chromium in the 3+ state – chromium (III). The average adult human body contains from 0.4 to 0.6 mg of chromium,
while the elderly have a smaller amount of this microelement. The amount of chromium in the body depends on the environment in which the person lives (and latitude). Many studies show that the number of people with diabetes and heart disease
is lower in environments where higher amounts of chromium are ingested.
Iodine (I, I 2 , lat. Iodum) Iodine is an essential trace element for humans. The average adult contains between 20 and 50 mg of iodine. About 60% of iodine is found
in the thyroid gland located at the base of the neck. The rest of the iodine is found
in thyroid hormones in the blood, ovaries, and muscles.
Calcium (Ca, Ca
2+
; lat. Calcis) Calcium is the most abundant microelement in the
human body. The average adult male contains about 1.5 kg of calcium and a female
about 1 kg in the body. About 99% of calcium from the body is found in bones and
teeth. The rest is found in the blood, lymph, and other body fluids, cell membranes,
as well as in the cell.
Potassium (K, K
+
; lat. Kalium) Potassium is the main cation (K
+
) in the intracellular fluid. So, the main source of K
+
is the cellular material that we receive in food,
and that is why potassium deficiency caused by poor nutrition is extremely rare, and
it occurs when there are very few protein calories. The average potassium content in
the body is about 140 g.
Chlorine (Cl, lat. Chlorium) Chlorine is a mineral that is primarily involved in
maintaining acid-base balance. It contributes to the buffering capacity in plasma by
allowing bicarbonate ions to enter the erythrocytes, without disturbing the electro11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food
Phosphorus (P, PO 4
3−
, phosphate; lat. Phosphorus) Phosphorus is the most
abundant element in the body after calcium. In the human body, it is approximately
1% of total body weight. It is present in every cell, but it is mostly found in bones
and teeth (about 85% of the total phosphorus present).
Iron (Fe, Fe
2+
, Fe
3+
; lat. Ferrum) Although iron is relatively abundant in the
Earth’s crust, the human body weighing 70 kg contains only 3–4 g of this mineral.
About two-thirds are found in the blood. The therapeutic use of iron dates back
several thousand years.
Germanium (Ge, lat. Germanium) Germanium, like silicon, is considered by
many to be a mineral responsible for the proper mineralization of bones but also an
essential antioxidant element. Some authors point out that germanium is actually
the key to the action of garlic, ginseng, and medicinal mushrooms (such as shitake
mushroom).
Chromium (Cr, Cr
3+
, Cr
6+
; lat. Chromium) Chromium is an essential microelement. In nature, it is found in three forms which is chromium in the 3+ state – chromium (III). The average adult human body contains from 0.4 to 0.6 mg of chromium,
while the elderly have a smaller amount of this microelement. The amount of chromium in the body depends on the environment in which the person lives (and latitude). Many studies show that the number of people with diabetes and heart disease
is lower in environments where higher amounts of chromium are ingested.
Iodine (I, I 2 , lat. Iodum) Iodine is an essential trace element for humans. The average adult contains between 20 and 50 mg of iodine. About 60% of iodine is found
in the thyroid gland located at the base of the neck. The rest of the iodine is found
in thyroid hormones in the blood, ovaries, and muscles.
Calcium (Ca, Ca
2+
; lat. Calcis) Calcium is the most abundant microelement in the
human body. The average adult male contains about 1.5 kg of calcium and a female
about 1 kg in the body. About 99% of calcium from the body is found in bones and
teeth. The rest is found in the blood, lymph, and other body fluids, cell membranes,
as well as in the cell.
Potassium (K, K
+
; lat. Kalium) Potassium is the main cation (K
+
) in the intracellular fluid. So, the main source of K
+
is the cellular material that we receive in food,
and that is why potassium deficiency caused by poor nutrition is extremely rare, and
it occurs when there are very few protein calories. The average potassium content in
the body is about 140 g.
Chlorine (Cl, lat. Chlorium) Chlorine is a mineral that is primarily involved in
maintaining acid-base balance. It contributes to the buffering capacity in plasma by
allowing bicarbonate ions to enter the erythrocytes, without disturbing the electro11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food