Collection: Minerals & trace elements

Minerals cannot be produced by the body itself and must therefore be regularly supplied through food. Because minerals occur in varying concentrations in the body, a distinction is made between macroelements and trace elements. All minerals whose concentration in the body exceeds 50 mg/kg of body weight are defined as macroelements. These include calcium, magnesium, chloride, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Trace elements are literally present only in trace amounts and are generally defined as occurring in amounts below 50 mg/kg of body weight. These include zinc, iron, selenium, molybdenum, manganese, copper, iodine, chromium, silicon, boron, and cobalt.