ABSTRACT
The definition of essentiality for the trace and ultratrace minerals is different from that used for amino acids, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. The latter definition has been disputed, however, because all trace minerals with a defined biochemical function interfere with the completion of a normal pregnancy. Bone mineralization involves many of the trace and ultratrace minerals known to be consumed by humans and other animals. The adverse effects of trace minerals are as diverse as the minerals themselves. Many of the trace minerals have more than one charged state; and living cells have preferences for these states. Actually, this problem is common to many of the trace minerals. The microminerals are subdivided into the trace minerals, iron, copper, and zinc and the ultratrace minerals, chromium, manganese, fluoride, iodide, cobalt, selenium, silicon, boron, vanadium, nickel, cadmium, lithium, lead, and molybdenum.
