Dietary Trace Minerals

Elad Tako

doi:10.3390/nu11112823

Abstract

Dietary trace minerals are pivotal and hold a key role in numerous metabolic processes. Trace mineral deficiencies (except for iodine, iron, and zinc) do not often develop spontaneously in adults on ordinary diets; infants are more vulnerable because their growth is rapid and intake varies. Trace mineral imbalances can result from hereditary disorders (e.g., hemochromatosis, Wilson disease), kidney dialysis, parenteral nutrition, restrictive diets prescribed for people with inborn errors of metabolism, or various popular diet plans. The Special Issue “Dietary Trace Minerals” comprised 13 peer-reviewed papers on the most recent evidence regarding the dietary intake of trace minerals, as well as their effect toward the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases. Original contributions and literature reviews further demonstrated the crucial and central part that dietary trace minerals play in human health and development. This editorial provides a brief and concise overview that addresses and summarizes the content of the Dietary Trace Minerals Special Issue.

Highlights

This monograph, based on a Special Issue of Nutrients, contains 13 manuscripts—two reviews and 11 original publications—that reflect the wide spectrum of currently conducted research in the field of dietary trace minerals
Macrominerals are defined as minerals that are required by adults in amounts greater than 100 mg/day or make up less than one percent of total body weight
Recommended intakes for trace elements are expressed as Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) or Adequate Intake

Summary

Introduction

This monograph, based on a Special Issue of Nutrients, contains 13 manuscripts—two reviews and 11 original publications—that reflect the wide spectrum of currently conducted research in the field of dietary trace minerals. The presented manuscripts cover a wide variety of topics in the field of dietary trace minerals, with emphasis on the antimicrobial properties of magnesium and the potential to develop healthier food [1], the link between Nrf2 and dietary selenium, iron, zinc, and copper [2], in vivo assessment of fast cooking yellow bean consumption on dietary iron bioavailability [3], the association between nicotianamine and 2 deoxymugineic acid as enhancers of iron bioavailability in vitro [4], analysis of bioelectrical impedance vector and phase angle on various forms of oral zinc supplementation in children [5], investigation of dietary silicon and its impact on plasma silicon concentrations in human subjects [6], the role of biotin in skin zinc homeostasis [7], the maize germ fraction and its inhibitory effect on iron bioavailability in vitro [8], assessment of the iron bioavailability of iron-biofortified beans in school children [9], investigation of the dietary iron bioavailability of iron biofortified carioca beans in vivo [10], vitamin D supplementation and its effect on serum iron concentrations in adolescents [11], the demonstration of silver ions as a tool for understanding copper metabolism [12], and the dietary and sentinel potential factors that lead to hemochromatosis [13].

Results

Conclusion