Trace elements: what are they, characteristics, types and functions?

Let's see what trace elements are, with several examples and explaining their functions in the body.

The atom, the smallest constituent unit of matter, has the property of a chemical element. Thus, we can affirm that absolutely any living being or object present on Earth is formed, in its most basic structure, by one of the elements that we find when we go to a periodic table.

Of course, it is shocking to reflect on our most basic composition: after all, all living beings are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Yet, beyond this, life requires complex interrelationships and other compounds to be carried out effectively and functionally.

More specific terms come into play here from a nutritional point of view, such as macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and trace elements, since living beings are capable of synthesizing compounds, but we also require elements present in the environment.

Naturally, this whole conglomerate can cause confusion even in the greatest of experts, and so today we focus on a really interesting functional unit: oligoelements. a really interesting functional unit: trace elements..

Trace elements: small but essential for the organism.

From a chemical point of view, we can define a trace element as a series of bioelements present in small quantities in living beings. In order to frame their importance from a nutritional point of view, we first have to go through, in a brief way, the field of nutrients. Let's do it.

Micronutrients and macronutrients

A nutrient is a chemical from outside the cell that the cell needs to perform its vital functions.. Translated into more friendly language, this concept could be defined as a series of substances that nourish us. Nutrients can be divided into large groups:

• Macronutrients: proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. They supply most of the body's metabolic energy.
• Micronutrients: they are found in much lower concentrations in food and we require less of them for our functions.

It is this last group that concerns us today, since within the micronutrients we find vitamins and trace elements (also called minerals indistinctly in many bibliographic sources).

Once both terms have been introduced, it is of essential importance to know that vitamins and trace elements are not interchangeable terms.. A vitamin is a molecule, i.e. a series of atoms arranged in a specific order, while a trace element (as its name suggests) is a simple body, i.e. it is made up of a single type of atoms.

The variety of trace elements and their functions.

We can affirm that trace elements are found in their elemental form, i.e. uncombined, in the form of chemical elements.. Although we will not find any protein, lipid or vitamin in the periodic table, trace elements will be present in it. These important elements have at least five essential functions in the body:

• Some are essential parts of the catalytic centers (the process by which the rates of chemical processes are increased) necessary for life.
• They participate in the attraction of substrate molecules and their conversion into end products by metabolic reactions.
• They can serve as electron acceptors or donors in oxidation-reduction reactions.
• When present as mineral salts they have important structural functions.
• They regulate and balance biological functions: respiration, digestion, hormonal activity and gene expression, among others.

As we have seen, the functions of trace elements are multiple and cannot be encompassed in a single space. Here are some specific examples. Don't miss them.

1. Fluorine

The chemical element number 9, located in the halogen group of the periodic table of elements. This trace element helps the fixation of calcium in the bones, in addition to maintaining a good state of the dental enamel (which prevents the appearance of infectious processes of bacterial origin).

2. Iodine

Chemical element number 53, again, in the halogen group. Iodine has a thyroid function, i.e. it is part of the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which are produced in the thyroid gland.manufactured in the thyroid gland. These hormone groups regulate cell metabolism and, together with other compounds, influence the growth of the organism and other biological processes.

3. Iron

We are dealing with chemical element number 26, the fourth most abundant transition metal in the earth's crust. Within our body, iron is the vital constituent of hemoglobin, a hemoprotein in the Blood that transports oxygen to cells and tissues.. It is therefore involved in cellular respiration and many other processes: glycolysis (oxidation of glucose for energy), fatty acid oxidation and DNA synthesis, among others.

4. Manganese

Element number 25, a metal located in group 7 of the periodic table. It is a constituent of certain enzymes, most notably manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which, for example, has been shown to be a tumor suppressor of breast cancer. Several research studies are exploring the field of manganese and allergiesIt seems that its supplementation can alleviate the symptoms of these processes in some cases. Even so, these hypotheses require much more experimental tests to be confirmed.

5. Nickel

With atomic number 28 and located in group 10 of the periodic table, nickel is another trace element that is part of the another trace element that makes up 87% of hydrogenases, essential enzymes in microbial metabolism.. It acts as a biocatalyst, participates in the growth and defense of the organism, promotes iron absorption and stabilizes DNA and RNA molecules.

6. Other trace elements

We have given you five examples of trace elements with a detailed function, but it should be noted that there are many more, just as important as the ones we have just mentioned. Here are some more examples a few more examples, related to a key functional term.

• Copper: stimulates the immune system.
• Cobalt: component of vitamin B12.
• Zinc: metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids.
• Boron: cell wall structure in vegetables.
• Chromium: glucose metabolism.
• Selenium: antioxidant and chemopreventive.
• Silicon: structure of bones, skin, hair and nails.
• Lithium: acts on the nervous system.
• Vanadium: relationship with insulin.
• Molybdenum: detoxification.

How many are there?

In total, we have presented you with a total of 15 trace elements, although the list will vary the list will vary according to the criteria of each author.. For example, lithium, tin, boron, bromine or cadmium (some present in the list and others not) are elements that are a source of debate, since their essentiality in the human body is not clear.

On the other hand, some sources erroneously include in the lists of trace elements elements such as calcium (recommended daily intake of 1,300 milligrams), potassium (4,700 milligrams daily) or sodium (1,500 milligrams). The definition of trace elements, from a theoretical point of view, excludes these elements, since the latter are present in greater quantities in our body than those shown above, and are therefore considered to be of "higher essentiality".

Oligotherapy

We cannot close this space without talking about oligotherapy, a pseudotherapy framed within the branches of alternative medicine that explores the use of oligoelements. in order to restore or improve altered metabolic processes in the patient's body.

Of course, we will never recommend this type of treatment as a substitute for conventional medical therapy, but in some specific cases and under the supervision of a health professional, they can become an accessory therapeutic support. Our duty, in this case, is to inform about their existence and not to evaluate their efficacy. We leave it to each reader to make his or her own judgment on the subject.

Summary

As we have seen in these lines, the trace elements are bioelements present in very small quantities in our body, but still have essential tasks for the functioning of human beingsFrom growth to DNA repair, their functions are endless.

The definition and classification criteria of trace elements may vary from one author to another, because what do we define as essential? To what extent is the concentration of the element in our body too high to be included in this group? These questions cannot be answered easily, and therefore, we have played it safe and have shown you those minerals that are present in very low amounts in our bodies, but which are essential in certain processes.

Bibliographical references:

• Dorosz, P. (2001). Table of vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements. Editorial Hispano Europea.
• McDowell, L. R., & Conrad, J. H. (1977). The nutritional importance of trace elements in Latin America. World Journal of Animal Husbandry, 24, 24-33.
• Miñana, I. V. (2015). Vitamins and trace elements. PediatríaIntegral, 324.
• Trace elements, Texas Heart institute. Retrieved October 31 from https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/oligoelementos/.
• Trace elements. Small amounts, big functions, Mapfre Health Channels. Retrieved October 31 from https://www.salud.mapfre.es/nutricion/reportajes-nutricion/oligoelementos-pequenas-cantidades-grandes-funciones/#:~:text=Fl%C3%BAor%2C%2C%20Iodine%2C%20Selenium%20and%20Silicon,se%20produce%20s%C3%ADsymptoms%20or%20diseases.
• Reynaud, A. C. (2014). Micronutrient%20and%20trace element%20requirement. Peruvian Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 60(2), 161-170.
• Rubio, C., González Weller, D., Martín-Izquierdo, R. E., Revert, C., Rodríguez, I., & Hardisson, A. (2007). Zinc: an essential trace element. Nutrición Hospitalaria, 22(1), 101-107.