2017 Volume 83 Issue 6 Pages 184-190
Essential trace elements (ETEs) are a couple of elements, whose abundance in the body is less than that of iron in human body, indispensable for human physiological function. Overview on the impacts of these elements on childʼs growth and development will be given. Elucidation of such impacts is not an easy task since so many factors other than ETEs, but often associated with ETEs, would affect the childʼs growth and development. Brief summary of the impacts by iron, zinc, copper, iodine, and selenium will be described, followed by a discussion on potential relationship between trace element nutritional status and globalization. Examining the issue of ETEs in global perspective has revealed the existence of deficiency in the past and might suggest reconsideration of the concept of nutritional requirement of ETEs.
