Human nutrient needs include vitamins and minerals, plus certain amino acids and fatty acids. The essential minerals are divided into major, trace and ultratrace mineral designations, depending on the amounts that meet daily needs. The eight trace minerals are: chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. Minerals in the major category are: calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and sulfur. Ultratrace minerals are: arsenic, boron, fluoride, nickel, silicon and vanadium.
Chromium
Chromium promotes the action of insulin in the management of blood sugar. The 100 percent daily value, or DV, for chromium, which is the number that appears on food labels, is 120 micrograms, abbreviated as mcg. DVs can be outdated, as they are based on the 1968 Recommended Dietary Allowances, RDA. In 2001, the adequate intake values for chromium were revised to 25 mcg for women and 35 mcg for men.
Copper
Copper is a component of the metalloenzymes involved in the management of oxygen. The 100 percent DV for copper is 2 milligrams, abbreviated as mg. Copper deficiency is rare. Many of the multivitamin/mineral products sold in the U.S. contain 100 percent DV of the eight trace minerals.
Iodine
Iodine is required for normal function of the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency occurs in mountainous regions where the soil is iodine depleted, resulting in mental retardation and dwarfism. Most salt, but not sea salt, is fortified with iodine. The 100 percent DV for iodine is 150 mcg. The RDA for men and women is also 150 mcg.
Iron
The 100 percent DV for iron is 18 mg, which is also the RDA for women of childbearing age. However, men and postmenopausal women need only 8 mg daily to meet their RDA. Iron's main function is to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells. Iron deficiency results in anemia.
Manganese
Manganese is a component of the metalloenzymes involved in maintaining healthy bones. The 100 percent DV for manganese is 2 mg. Manganese deficiency is rare.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum deficiency has not been observed in healthy people. The 100 percent DV for molybdenum is 75 mcg. This mineral serves as a cofactor in the function of several enzymes, including sulfite oxidase, xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase.
Selenium
Selenium, a component in metalloenzymes, functions as an antioxidant. The 100 percent DV for selenium is 70 mcg. Selenium deficiency occurs in humans and farm animals living in regions with selenium-poor soil. The window of safety between requirement and toxicity is small, as the safe upper limit of intake is capped at 400 mcg daily, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Zinc
Much like some of the other trace minerals, zinc is essential for the function of many enzymes and is thus involved in most metabolic processes. The 100 percent DV for zinc is 15 mg, but the estimated average requirement, EAR, updated in 2001, is 9.4 mg for men and 6.8 mg for women. A report on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2001-2002 stated that 11 percent of men and 17 percent of women age 19 and over consumed less than the EAR.
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