Trace Elements Flashcards
What are trace elements?
Inorganic micronutrients considered essential when deficiency in their intake causes impairmemt of function
How is function restored and symptoms alleviated when these trace elements are deficient?
By supplying physiological amounts of the element
What trace elements have specific biochemical functions and symptoms of deficiency in humans?
Cupper Zinc Iron Fluoride Iodine Chromium Selenium
What is the most abundant trace element?
Iron (Fe)
What trace elements have no clear biochemical functions but are symptomatic when deficient?
Cobalt
Boron
What trace elements have a clear biochemical function but do not show symptoms in deficiency?
Manganese
Molybdenum
How are clinically critical trace elements studied primarily?
Via indirect measurement
Indirect measurement of iron
Hemoglobin/red blood cells appearance
Transferrin/ferritin binding/storage/transport proteins
Indirect measurement of iodine
Thyroid hormone
Indirect measurement of copper
Ceruloplasmin
Indirect measurement for zinc
RBC protoporphyrin
What percentage of dietary copper is absorbed?
50%
What are the functions of copper?
Needed in many enzyme reactions
Role in regulation of iron metabolism, formation of connective tissue, energy production within cells, and nervous system
Percentage of copper in liver
10%
Percentage of copper in muscle, kidney, heart, brain
70%
What protein carried copper?
Ceruloplasmin
This a-2 globulin protein made in the liver is a copper-containing enzyme that plays a role in the body’s iron metabolism.
Ceruloplasmin
What percentage of circulating copper is bound to ceruloplasmin?
~95%
Why are preemies deficient of copper?
Cu stores in liver increase till the third trimester.
What can cause cu deficiency in adults?
Malabsorption
Inborn error of cu absorption/metabolism
What disease is deficiency of cu?
Menke’s syndrome
What disease is cu overload?
Wilson’s disease
What can cause cu overload?
Inborn errors of cu metabolism
How is excess cu is usually discarded?
Excreted in bile to feces.
What organ damage is seen in cu overload?
Hepatolenticular degeneration.
What is Menke’s syndrome?
X-linked defect in intestinal absorption, transport and storage of cu