ABSTRACT
Minor minerals or trace elements are present in the human body as less than 0.01% of total mass. Furthermore, current recommendations for the intake of each of the minor minerals is less than 100 mg daily. Minor minerals may act as cofactors in human tissues and/or are part of various compounds. Presently, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that certain minor minerals function at the genetic level. Even though they are present in rela tively small amounts, certain minor minerals can be fatal if omitted from the diet or even lethal when taken in excess of needs. Deficiencies of trace elements may result from either lack in the diet and/or malabsorption over a period of time. Furthermore, the amount of a minor mineral in plant or animal source can vary, based upon the soil and water content of the area in which the plant was grown or an animal grazed.
