Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 1, Issue 1 49-73, Copyright © 1982 by American College of Nutrition
Mineral metabolism in the aging and the aged
R. D. Lindeman
With the development of accurate and precise techniques for quantifying
sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, a vast literature
has been generated indicating that deficits and excesses of these cations
in the body create many clinical challenges for the physician. Iron has
received its share of attention as the most abundant trace metal in the
body, primarily being utilized in the formation of hemoglobin. Zinc is the
next most abundant trace element in the body, and evaluation of its role in
the biochemistry and pathophysiology of disease is now stimulating a great
deal of interest. Deficiencies of the other trace metals also are receiving
increasing attention as attempts to evaluate their importance in human
nutrition are being made. Studies were not considered reliable until
technological advances made it possible, by atomic absorption spectroscopy,
neutron activation analysis, and other techniques, to quantify these trace
elements accurately and precisely.
