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In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element. Some "minerals" are essential for life, but most are not. [1] [2] [3] Minerals are one of the four groups of essential nutrients; the others are vitamins, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids. [4] The five major minerals in the human body are calcium, phosphorus ...
A trace element is a chemical element of a minute quantity, a trace amount, especially used in referring to a micronutrient, [1] [2] but is also used to refer to minor elements in the composition of a rock, or other chemical substance. In nutrition, trace elements are classified into two groups: essential trace elements, and non-essential trace ...
Essential for almost all living things; needed for chlorophyll, and is a co-factor for many other enzymes; has multiple medical uses. [11] Large doses can have toxic effects. [11] manganese: 25: 5a: Essential for almost all living things, although in very small amounts; it is a cofactor for many classes of enzymes.
The nutrients considered essential for humans comprise nine amino acids, two fatty acids, thirteen vitamins, fifteen minerals and choline. [13] In addition, there are several molecules that are considered conditionally essential nutrients since they are indispensable in certain developmental and pathological states. [13] [14] [15]
Minerals are distinguished by various chemical and physical properties. Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various species. Within a mineral species there may be variation in physical properties or minor amounts of impurities that are recognized by mineralogists or wider society as a mineral variety.
Two broad classes of elements (idiochromatic and allochromatic) are defined with regards to their contribution to a mineral's colour: Idiochromatic elements are essential to a mineral's composition; their contribution to a mineral's colour is diagnostic. [75] [79] Examples of such minerals are malachite (green) and azurite (blue). In contrast ...
Vitamins and minerals are essential to the proper functioning and maintenance of the human body. [113] There are 20 trace elements and minerals that are essential in small quantities to body function and overall human health. [113] Iron deficiency is the most common inadequate nutrient worldwide, affecting approximately 2 billion people. [114]
In biochemistry, an ultratrace element is a chemical element that normally comprises less than one microgram per gram of a given organism (i.e. less than 0.0001% by weight), but which plays a significant role in its metabolism. Possible ultratrace elements in humans include boron, silicon, nickel, vanadium [1] and cobalt. [2]