Biology:Trace element
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 elements. Essential trace elements are needed for many physiological and biochemical processes in both plants and animals. Not only do trace elements play a role in biological processes but they also serve as catalysts to engage in redox – oxidation and reduction mechanisms.[3] Trace elements of some heavy metals have a biological role as essential micronutrients.
Types
The two types of trace element in biochemistry are classed as essential or non-essential.
Essential trace elements
An essential trace element is a dietary element, a mineral that is only needed in minute quantities for the proper growth, development, and physiology of the organism.[4] The essential trace elements are those that are required to perform vital metabolic activities in organisms.[5] Essential trace elements in human nutrition, and other animals include iron (Fe) (hemoglobin), copper (Cu) (respiratory pigments), cobalt (Co) (Vitamin B12), iodine, manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) (enzymes).[5][6] Although they are essential, they become toxic at high concentrations.[7]
Non-essential trace elements
Non-essential trace elements include silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). They have no known biological function in mammals, with toxic effects even at low concentration.[5]
The structural components of cells and tissues that are required in the diet in gram quantities daily are known as bulk elements.[8]
See also
- Antinutrient
- Bowen's Kale
- Geotraces
- List of micronutrients
References
- ↑ Bhattacharya, Preeti Tomar; Misra, Satya Ranjan; Hussain, Mohsina (2016-06-28). "Nutritional Aspects of Essential Trace Elements in Oral Health and Disease: An Extensive Review" (in en). Scientifica 2016: 1–12. doi:10.1155/2016/5464373. PMID 27433374.
- ↑ "Definition of Trace element" (in en). https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trace%20element.
- ↑ "What are Trace Elements ?". http://www.med.or.jp/english/pdf/2004_08/351_358.pdf.
- ↑ Bowen, Humphrey John Moule (1966). Trace elements in biochemistry. Academic Press. ISBN 9780121209506. https://books.google.com/books?id=AH2T3X0enHkC.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Soto-Jiménez, Martin (December 2011). "Trace element trophic transfer in aquatic food webs". Hidrobiológica 21 (3): 239–248. ISSN 0188-8897. http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0188-88972011000300003. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ↑ Shier, Butler, Lewis, David, Jackie, Ricki (2016). Hole's Human Anatomy Fourteenth Edition. New York: McGraw Hill Education. pp. 59. ISBN 978-0-07-802429-0.
- ↑ "Essential metals in health and disease". Chem Biol Interact 367: 110173. November 2022. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110173. PMID 36152810.
- ↑ "Essential Elements for Life". https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_general-chemistry-principles-patterns-and-applications-v1.0/s05-08-essential-elements-for-life.html.
 |  |
