Six macrominerals are required by people in gram amounts.
Daily requirements range from 0.3 to 2.0 g. Bone, muscle, heart, and brain function depend on these macrominerals.
(See also Water and Sodium Balance.)
Nine trace minerals (microminerals) are required by people in minute amounts:
Dietary guidelines for trace minerals have been determined (see table Guidelines for Daily Intake of Trace Minerals). All trace minerals are toxic at high levels; some minerals (arsenic, nickel, and chromium) may be carcinogens. It is not clear whether chromium should be considered an essential (required) trace element (1).
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 (eg, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease), kidney dialysis, parenteral nutrition, restrictive diets prescribed for people with inborn errors of metabolism, or various popular diet plans.
Trace Minerals
Guidelines for Daily Intake of Trace Minerals
|
Category |
Age (year) or Time Frame |
Chromium (mcg) |
Copper (mcg) |
Fluoride (mg) |
Iodine (mcg) |
Iron (mg) |
Manganese (mg) |
Molybdenum (mcg) |
Selenium (mcg) |
Zinc (mg) |
|
Recommended daily intake |
||||||||||
|
Infants |
0.0–0.6 |
0.2 |
200 |
NR |
110 |
0.27 |
0.003 |
2 |
15 |
2 |
|
0.7–1.0 |
5.5 |
220 |
0.5 |
130 |
11 |
0.6 |
3 |
20 |
3 |
|
|
Children |
1–3 |
11 |
340 |
0.7 |
90 |
7 |
1.2 |
17 |
20 |
3 |
|
4–8 |
15 |
440 |
1 |
90 |
10 |
1.5 |
22 |
30 |
5 |
|
|
Males |
9–13 |
25 |
700 |
2 |
120 |
8 |
1.9 |
34 |
40 |
8 |
|
14–18 |
35 |
890 |
3 |
150 |
11 |
2.2 |
43 |
55 |
11 |
|
|
19–30 |
35 |
900 |
4 |
150 |
8 |
2.3 |
45 |
55 |
11 |
|
|
31–50 |
35 |
900 |
4 |
150 |
8 |
2.3 |
45 |
55 |
11 |
|
|
51+ |
30 |
900 |
4 |
150 |
8 |
2.3 |
45 |
55 |
11 |
|
|
Females |
9–13 |
21 |
700 |
2 |
120 |
8 |
1.6 |
34 |
40 |
8 |
|
14–18 |
24 |
890 |
3 |
150 |
15 |
1.6 |
43 |
55 |
9 |
|
|
19–30 |
25 |
900 |
3 |
150 |
18 |
1.8 |
45 |
55 |
8 |
|
|
31–50 |
25 |
900 |
3 |
150 |
18 |
1.8 |
45 |
55 |
8 |
|
|
51+ |
20 |
900 |
3 |
150 |
8 |
1.8 |
45 |
55 |
8 |
|
|
Pregnant |
30 |
1000 |
3 |
220 |
27 |
2.0 |
50 |
60 |
11 |
|
|
Breastfeeding |
45 |
1300 |
3 |
290 |
9 |
2.6 |
50 |
70 |
12 |
|
|
Upper limit (UL) |
||||||||||
|
Infants |
< 1 |
ND |
ND |
0.7–0.9 |
ND |
40 |
ND |
ND |
45–60 |
4–5 |
|
Children |
1–8 |
ND |
1000–3000 |
1.3–2.2 |
200–300 |
40 |
2–3 |
300–600 |
90–150 |
7–12 |
|
People |
≥ 9 |
ND |
5,000–10,000 |
10 |
600–1100 |
40–45 |
6–11 |
1100–2000 |
280–400 |
23–40 |
|
NOTE: Recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are shown in regular type. RDAs are set to meet the needs of 97 to 98% of people in a group. Adequate intakes (AIs) are shown in bold type. For healthy breastfed infants, AIs are the mean intake. For other groups, AIs are amounts believed to meet the needs of all people in the group, but because of lack of data, the percentage of people covered cannot be specified with confidence. |
||||||||||
|
NR = not recommended; ND = not determinable because of lack of data, so sources of intake should be limited to foods. |
||||||||||
|
Adapted from Ross AC, Taylor CL, Yaktine AL, et al: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Recommended Dietary Allowances and Adequate Intakes, Elements, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2011. |
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Reference
-
1. Vincent JB: New evidence against chromium as an essential trace element. J Nutr 147(12):2212–2219, 2017. doi:10.3945/jn.117.255901.
More Information about Minerals
-
U.S. Department of Agriculture: National Agricultural Library
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
Selenium |
Selenium |
