Trace Elements

Question 1

Trace elements and ultra trace elements

Answer 1

• Trace Elements refers to those elements present in minute concentrations in body fluids (μg/dL) and in tissue (mg/kg)
• Ultratrace Elements are those found in very minute concentration at ng/dL or μg/kg.

Question 2

What are essential elements?

Answer 2

An element is considered essential if a deficiency impairs a biochemical or functional process and replacement of the element corrects this impairment.

Question 3

Why are non essential elements of medical importance ?

Answer 3

primarily because many of them are toxic.

Question 4

Trace elements make up what percentage of the body’s weight ?

Answer 4

less than 0.01 percent of the body’s dry weight.

Question 5

Classification of Trace events?

Answer 5

According to WHO, it can be classified as
1)Essential trace elements e.g Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Chromium, Iron, Cobalt, Molybdenum.
2)Trace element that are probably essential e.g Manganese, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, Boron.
3)Potentially toxic elements with possible essential function in low doses e.g Fluoride, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Arsenic, Lithium, Tin, Aluminium.