Trace elements in man

Abstract

It is likely that most, if not all, of the elements found to be essential in animals will be shown to be so for man, and the clinical picture produced by deficiency of the elements in the human patient will differ little from that seen in the animal, although this has been established for only five elements (I, Fe, Cu, Co and Zn). However, the link between lack of a given element in the soil and a human patient is far less direct and much more complex than that met with in the animal grazing on deficient pastures, except in isolated primitive communities. Zn is the most protean of the trace elements and has been chosen to illustrate this in human practice. Excesses of essential elements (both trace and major) give rise to toxic effects and the importance of a proper balance especially of the transitional elements in the human diet is discussed with special reference to Cu, Zn and Fe. Certain non-essential trace elements are individual and community hazards: Cd, Pb and Hg are the principal offenders for humans. Mankind is now largely dependent on grassland products, cereals and livestock with increasing dominance of the former in human nutrition. This has reduced the bioavailability of trace elements so that study of trace metals, especially Zn and Cu, in skeletal and dental remains at human burial and occupation sites should prove useful in assessing the consequences of this striking change in dietary habits.