With the development of science, especially the extensive research in the past 20 years, the research on trace elements has become more and more in-depth in the world, and great progress has been made in the relationship between trace elements and biology, medicine, ecology and environmental science.
Research proves that trace elements are important for human growth and development
They are closely related to the development, prevention and treatment of fetal malformations, endocrine, neurological, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, immune function, tumors and other pathologies. There are 12 trace elements that are essential for humans and animals, namely iron, zinc, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, cobalt, selenium, nickel, fluorine, iodine and strontium.
Many of the trace elements in the cells of the body exist as catalysts for various enzymes, they have many functions and are key components of the protein system. They play a stabilizing and activating role for nucleic acids, hormones, cell membranes, etc. Insufficient intake of trace elements causes deficiency and directly affects human health. When too much is consumed, poisoning can occur again.
Zinc: Animal experiments have confirmed that zinc is a very specific mitogen for lymphocytes, and that zinc-containing DNA and RNA polymerases or activators are involved in mitosis in epithelial cells. Zinc regulates the sensation, secretion, excretion and antibody production of skin mucosa.
It maintains the elasticity and density of the skin. When zinc levels are insufficient or deficient, seborrhea increases and predisposes to acne, hair loss, and growth disorders. By measuring the zinc content of psoriatic hair, the zinc content of psoriatic hair was lower than that of normal controls, indicating that a large number of epithelial cells in psoriasis consume a certain amount of zinc-containing enzymes by mitosis.
This has important significance for the prevention and treatment of psoriasis. The normal human body contains about 2 grams of zinc, and the daily requirement for adults is 10-15 mg, all of which comes from the diet in normal metabolism. Adjusting the diet structure is the main method to prevent and treat zinc deficiency. Animal foods such as meat and seafood (fish and shellfish) contain high zinc content and are easily absorbed.
Chromium: can delay skin aging, accelerate growth and development, and has a good role in promoting the synthesis of hemoglobin and the hematopoietic process. Animal experiments have shown that chromium-deficient rats with chromium supplementation have accelerated growth, extended life span and reduced mortality.
After receiving a single dose of 250mg chromium in malnourished infants, growth and development were accelerated, body weight was increased and physique was improved. The total amount of chromium in the body of adults is about 6g, newborns are slightly higher than children, children are higher than adults until the age of 3, and the amount of chromium gradually decreases with age, therefore, the elderly often have chromium deficiency. The human body needs chromium 75mg per day, mainly from the diet intake. Brewer’s yeast, wild animals, domestic animal liver, beef and other chromium content is high, and the activity is large.
Selenium:It has the function of protecting the heart, liver and enhancing the immune function of human body. Selenium can partially replace and promote the effect of vitamin E. Selenium deficiency can suffer from eczema, dermatitis, pruritus, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, macrosomia, etc. Excessive intake of selenium can cause toxicity, the symptoms of which are hair loss, nail loss and skin damage. Adults need 50 – 200mg of selenium daily. malt and traditional Chinese medicine astragalus contain more selenium.
Copper: can promote the synthesis of iron hemoglobin, copper deficiency in iron absorption is reduced, hemoglobin synthesis is blocked, can cause anemia. Copper is directly involved in the metabolic process of human pigment; the ability of tyrosinase to catalyze the formation of melanin from tyrosine is directly proportional to the amount of copper ions, elevated serum copper levels enhance skin tyrosinase activity, pigmentation enhancement and facial pigmentation, pigmented dry skin disease, also associated with eczema, psoriasis.
The formation of tyrosinase is difficult in copper deficiency, making the synthesis of melanin in the body blocked. As a result of melanin deficiency leads to hair depigmentation, it has been reported that the copper content in the hair of vitiligo affected people is significantly lower than that of normal people, and the reduction of copper content is aggravated with the prolongation of the disease.
It is also closely related to the development of vitiligo and pemphigus vulgaris. The human body contains 0.15g of copper, and the daily requirement of adults is about 0.05-2mg.
Fluorine:It can protect teeth and prevent dental caries, which is due to the fact that fluorine ion can replace part of hydroxyapatite hydroxyl group in tooth enamel and form fluorapatite crystals which are not easily soluble in acid. It can enhance the resistance to the acid produced by oral microorganisms and is less likely to be eroded into caries.
The human body contains about 2.6g of fluorine, and when the fluorine content in drinking water is 1-1.5ppm, it has normal physiological functions such as preventing dental caries. When it exceeds 1.5ppm, there is a possibility of dental plaque. If you drink water with high fluoride content or consume too much fluoride for a long time, damage to bones and kidneys may occur.
Iron:It is one of the main components of hemoglobin, the active component of cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase and other enzyme systems, and an important element of human metabolism. Clinical trials have proved that in the hair of psoriasis patients, the iron content is significantly lower than that of normal controls, which is important for the prevention and treatment of psoriasis. Iron deficiency can cause iron deficiency anemia when deficient.
Excessive intake can lead to tissue destruction and skin pigmentation and other diseases. It has been reported that the clinical study of self-designed “heat-clearing and ulcer-eliminating soup” (Shi Lan, Zhi Mu, Chuan Lian, Xie Cao and Fish Plate) shows that it can reduce the abnormally high serum iron and increase the serum calcium content. The human body contains about 4-5g of iron, and the daily requirement for adults is about 20mg, mainly from food, with animal liver, kidney, egg yolk, beans and high iron content.
Iodine: mainly involved in the synthesis of human thyroxine, is an indispensable element for normal human metabolism. Lack of iodine causes goiter and many other diseases, and excessive intake can cause poisoning. The iodine required by the human body is mainly taken from food, water and salt. Adults need about 100 – 200mg of iodine per day to meet their physiological needs.
The above only lists 7 kinds of trace elements for the reference of our colleagues. In recent years, there has been a rapid development of trace element preparations. So far, the research on trace elements at home and abroad is still at the primary stage of descriptive and single application, and has not yet formed a systematic medicine.
Therefore, neither the role of trace elements should be disregarded, nor the abuse of trace elements should be expanded and publicized, so as not to cause the harm of excessive intake of trace elements and chronic or acute poisoning.