Many parents only know the term “trace elements”, but are confused about what trace elements are. According to the content in the human body, elements can be divided into two categories: macronutrients and trace elements. Any element that accounts for more than one ten thousandth of the total weight of the human body, such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, nano, chlorine, potassium, sulfur, etc., is called macronutrients or macroelements; any element that accounts for less than one ten thousandth of the total weight of the human body is called trace elements, and trace elements are divided into essential trace elements and toxic trace elements. For example, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, cobalt, nickel, boron, fluorine, silicon, vanadium, chromium, manganese, bromine, tin and iodine are essential trace elements, which are indispensable for life activities and are also called vital elements, while there are also some toxic heavy metal elements without any physiological effect in human body, such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, which usually belong to trace elements. Essential trace elements play an extremely important role in the human body and are the basis of various metabolisms in the human body, and affect the growth and development of children. Excessive, insufficient, unbalanced or deficient intake of trace elements can cause changes in physiological functions or diseases in children. Each micronutrient has its own specific physiological role, and deficiency causes corresponding diseases. The role of several common trace elements: A iron, is the basis of the composition of hemoglobin, iron deficiency can cause iron deficiency anemia, and easy to complicate the infection, serious cases with neurological development and behavioral abnormalities. B zinc, affects amino acid metabolism and protein synthesis, zinc deficiency can cause growth retardation in children, but also affects the development of children’s bones, zinc also constitutes the taste element, zinc deficiency is common in the loss of taste, anorexia, heterophagia. C. Copper is mainly bound to albumin and copper blue protein in the body, and copper deficiency can lead to anemia, neutropenia and infectious diseases. D Iodine, the role in the body through the function of thyroxine and realized, the lack of iodine in the environment will cause endemic goiter, the lack of thyroxine on the brain development of young children and intelligent development irreversible damage. E selenium, involved in the composition of some proteases in the body, but also to remove free radicals in the body, play a role in anti-aging, anti-cancer, lack of selenium can appear Keshan disease, large bone disease, etc.. F Molybdenum, which exists in xanthine oxidase, an important enzyme in the human body, and lack of molybdenum causes uric acid metabolism disorders. In addition, molybdenum is related to the development of esophageal cancer. G cobalt, can promote the absorption of zinc, most of the cobalt in the liver in the form of vitamin B13, vitamin B13 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia. H fluorine is involved in the normal metabolism of human body. The right amount of fluorine plays an important role in maintaining the calcium and phosphorus metabolism of the body, promoting the calcification of teeth and bones, and ensuring the normal growth and development of teeth and bones. Warm tip Avoid children’s exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and other elements in ordinary life, the long-term accumulation of these elements in the body will have a toxic effect.