Element

Description

Bromine

NO

Possibly important to basement membrane architecture and tissue development, as a needed catalyst to make collagen IV.^[36]

Arsenic

NO

Essential in rat, hamster, goat and chicken models, but no research has been done in humans.^[37]

Nickel

YES

Nickel is an essential component of several enzymes, including urease and hydrogenase.^[38] Although not required by humans, some are thought to be required by gut bacteria, such as urease required by some varieties of Bifidobacterium.^[39] In humans, nickel may be a cofactor or structural component of certain metalloenzymes involved in hydrolysis, redox reactions and gene expression. Nickel deficiency depressed growth in goats, pigs, and sheep, and diminished circulating thyroid hormone concentration in rats.^[40]

Fluorine

NO

Fluorine (as fluoride) is not considered an essential element because humans do not require it for growth or to sustain life. Research indicates that the primary dental benefit from fluoride occurs at the surface from topical exposure.^{[41] [42]} Of the minerals in this table, fluoride is the only one for which the U.S. Institute of Medicine has established an Adequate Intake.^[43]

Boron

YES

Boron is an essential plant nutrient, required primarily for maintaining the integrity of cell walls.^{[44] [45] [46]} Boron has been shown to be essential to complete the life cycle in representatives of all kingdoms of life.^{[38] [47]} In animals, supplemental boron has been shown to reduce calcium excretion and activate vitamin D.^[48]

Lithium

YES

It is not known whether lithium has a physiological role in any species,^[49] but nutritional studies in some mammals have indicated its importance to health, leading to a suggestion that it be classed as an essential trace element.

Strontium

NO

Strontium has been found to be involved in the utilization of calcium in the body. It has promoting action on calcium uptake into bone at moderate dietary strontium levels, but a rachitogenic (rickets-producing) action at higher dietary levels.^[50]

Other

Silicon NO and vanadium YES have established, albeit specialized, biochemical roles as structural or functional cofactors in other organisms, and are possibly, even probably, used by mammals (including humans). By contrast, tungsten, the early lanthanides, and cadmium have specialized biochemical uses in certain lower organisms, but these elements appear not to be utilized by mammals.^[51] Other elements considered to be possibly essential include aluminium YES, germanium, lead, rubidium, and tin.^{[38] [52] [53]}

Potassium

YES

4700

NE; NE

A systemic electrolyte and is essential in coregulating ATP with sodium

Sweet potato, tomato, potato, beans, lentils, dairy products, seafood, banana, prune, carrot, orange^[16]

Chlorine

NO

2300

3600; NE

Needed for production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and in cellular pump functions

Table salt (sodium chloride) is the main dietary source.

Sodium

YES

1500

2300; NE

A systemic electrolyte and is essential in coregulating ATP with potassium

Table salt (sodium chloride, the main source), sea vegetables, milk, and spinach.

Calcium

YES

1200

2500; 2500

Needed for muscle, heart and digestive system health, builds bone, supports synthesis and function of blood cells

Dairy products, eggs, canned fish with bones (salmon, sardines), green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, tofu, thyme, oregano, dill, cinnamon.^[17]

Phosphorus

YES

700

4000; 4000

A component of bones (see apatite), cells, in energy processing, in DNA and ATP (as phosphate) and many other functions

Red meat, dairy foods, fish, poultry, bread, rice, oats.^[18][19] In biological contexts, usually seen as phosphate^[20]

Magnesium

YES

420

350; 250

Required for processing ATP and for bones

Spinach, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, peanut butter, avocado^[21]

Iron

YES

18

45; NE

Required for many proteins and enzymes, notably hemoglobin to prevent anemia

Meat, seafood, nuts, beans, dark chocolate^[22]

Zinc

YES

11

40; 25

Required for several classes of enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases, liver alcohol dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase and zinc finger proteins

Oysters*, red meat, poultry, nuts, whole grains, dairy products^[23]

Manganese

YES

2.3

11; NE

Required co-factor for superoxide dismutase

Grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, leafy vegetables, tea, coffee^[24]

Copper

YES

0.9

10; 5

Required co-factor for cytochrome c oxidase

Liver, seafood, oysters, nuts, seeds; some: whole grains, legumes^[24]

Iodine

NO

0.150

1.1; 0.6

Required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones

Seaweed (kelp or kombu)*, grains, eggs, iodized salt^[25]

Chromium

YES

0.035

NE; NE

Involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, although its mechanisms of action in the body and the amounts needed for optimal health are not well-defined^[27][28]

Broccoli, grape juice (especially red), meat, whole grain products^[29]

Molybdenum

NO

0.045

2; 0.6

Required for the functioning of xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and sulfite oxidase^[30]

Legumes, whole grains, nuts^[24]

Selenium

NO

0.055

0.4; 0.3

Essential to activity of antioxidant enzymes like glutathione peroxidase

Brazil nuts, seafoods, organ meats, meats, grains, dairy products, eggs^[32]

Cobalt

NO

none

NE; NE

Required in the synthesis of vitamin B₁₂, but because bacteria are required to synthesize the vitamin, it is usually considered part of vitamin B₁₂