Metabolism of Essential Trace Elements and Associated Disorders

Trace elements are inorganic substances that exist naturally and are necessary for human health at doses less than 100 mg daily. They mediate vital biochemical reactions, are crucial components of biological structures, and have a significant impact and function as major players in a number of activities required for life. When these elements are present in excess – that is, in greater quantities than what is necessary for biological functions – they can be hazardous to the health of the organism. As a result, it has been shown that variations from the ideal concentrations of trace elements can negatively impact biological functions and are linked to a number of deadly illnesses, including cancer. The focus of this chapter is to improve our understanding of the connection between trace elements and how diseases are affected by them. This chapter will also focus on the metabolism of essential trace elements, i.e., iron, iodine, zinc, fluoride, copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium, cobalt, and chromium and related diseases due to its alteration.