Thursday, 21 February 2013

Trace Minerals - Health Benefits of Trace Minerals

http://www.algaecal.com/trace-minerals.html


What is a Trace Mineral?

Most of us are familiar with the minerals our bodies need at high levels, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. These minerals, because they are needed by our bodies in significant amounts, are called macrominerals. A number of other minerals, required in much smaller levels by our bodies, but no less important to good overall health, are called microminerals, or more commonly trace minerals.14 Trace minerals are usually found at extraordinarily small levels in our bodies, in the parts per million range.1 In spite of the relatively low concentrations of these minerals, scientists are discovering that they play an increasingly vital role in our health, including the health of our bones and joints.1-19

The Benefits of Trace Minerals

Do we need trace minerals?....Yes! It is a certainty that a large number of trace minerals are directly linked to good bone health. Deficiencies of certain trace minerals, such as copper and manganese, for example, have been connected to lower bone density and weaker bones.5 While everyone is aware of the benefit calcium has on bone health, studies show that supplementing with calcium and trace minerals together increases bone density in post-menopausal women more than calcium alone.5 Calcium alone is not enough!
A two year, double-blind, placebo controlled trial suggests that bone loss in post-menopausal women can be STOPPED when trace mineral intake is increased!6 The women in the study who took calcium alone only slowed their rates of bone loss. While the mechanisms of how trace minerals function in our bodies may not be entirely known, it is becoming clear that they are necessary for preserving bone mass and for general health as well! There are 60 minerals found in human blood and known to be needed in the diet on a regular basis.15 Human milk also contains 60 minerals, including some, such as nickel and vanadium, that were previously thought to be unimportant.15 Because these minerals are found in our blood and in mothers' milk our bodies probably have some use for them, even though science has not yet identified the usefulness of each trace mineral!

We Are Losing Nutrients!

It is an astonishing, yet little published fact, that many of our foods don't contain the same levels of nutrition as they once did.4,10,11,19The reasons aren't entirely known, but since the early 1960's the levels of vitamins and minerals in our produce and meats has dropped significantly.4 Did you know, for example, that broccoli today has only 50% of the calcium it did in 1963?4 The potassium level in beets has dropped by 10% over the same time period, and spinach has 10% less magnesium!4 Going back to the 1930's, vegetables have lost about half of their sodium and calcium content, a quarter of their iron and 76 percent of their copper content.10The nutrient levels of fruits has declined significantly with copper, iron, and zinc all falling by up to 27 percent. 10 Other vitamins and minerals have shown a 5 to 35 percent decline in our fruits and vegetables over the past 50 years.11 Some cattle farmers are even finding low levels of trace minerals in our beef and have begun supplementing their animals with minerals obviously lacking in their feed!19 While many of us have never heard about this loss of nutrition, scientists have even given it a name, calling this phenomenon "the dilution effect". Farmers get paid by the weight and appearance of their product, so they have been focused on growing large, beautiful fruits and vegetables, but the nutritional value has washed out! Clearly our soil isn't providing the same nutrients to our foods as it once did.

the following trace minerals which have been shown to have positive effects on bone health!
  • Boron [Scientific research has shown that boron plays an essential role in bone health.]

  • Copper
  •              

    Copper and Bone Health

    While it might be surprising to think of copper as something our bodies require, it has been shown in numerous studies to have a positive impact on our bone health.2,5
    Among the studies on copper and bone health, researchers have found a definite correlation between copper deficiencies and lower bone density and bone strength.5  It has been demonstrated that copper can have a positive impact on the spinal bone densities of post-menopausal women.5  Copper has also been shown to be essential in the metabolism of bone, working along with certain enzymes such as lysyl oxidase to help incorporate both collagen and elastin into the organic component of bone.5
    In a recent rat study, copper was shown to have an effect on the balance of bone building cells vs bone absorbing cells.  The rats that didn't get enough copper in their diet essentially had their bones remodeled because of this imbalance.5 Copper isn't just for pipes anymore! It is an essential mineral, vital to the health and strength of our bones!

  • Silica/Silicon
  •    Silicon (found most often in a form called silica) is among the most understood of all the trace minerals in terms of the benefits it provides to bone health.  It also appears to have a unique role in the way our bones are formed.  Silicon seems to be very important early on in bone formation.1  It helps get the bone growth process started, and as bone mineralization continues, the silicon is replaced in the bone by calcium.1  In animals testing, chicks fed a silicon deficient diet had skull and long bone abnormalities associated with depressed collagen (the organic part of bone that gives it strength and flexibility) content in bone, poorly formed joints, and defective bone growth.1  Silicon also has an effect calcium levels in the bone.  When calcium-deficient rats are also deprived of silicon, the level of calcium in the rats' bones appears to drop even further!1
    Animal studies show that supplementing with silicon reduces the number of osteoclast (bone destroying) cells, partially preventing bone resorption and bone loss.  Silicon compounds were also shown in vitro to stimulate the DNA synthesis in osteoblast (bone building) cells.13
    Human testing using silicon has also demonstrated the mineral's positive effect of bone health.  Dietary silicon intake has been positively associated with bone mineral density in men and pre-menopausal women!7  In a clinical study on 53 women with osteoporosis, supplementing with silicon was associated with a SIGNIFICANT increase in the mineral bone density of the femur!13
    These studies all suggest that there is an important link between silicon and bone health.  In light of the abundance of science supporting silicon why do calcium supplements not include silica or other trace minerals?  Count on AlgaeCal to provide you with much needed silicon and start improving your bone health today!

  • Manganese
  •   The benefits of maintaining adequate manganese levels in our bodies to ensure good bone health are readily apparent from the scientific research available today.  Manganese is essential in bone metabolism, working as a cofactor for a number of bone building enzymes.2  It has also been demonstrated to be an effective way to help increase spinal bone mineral density in post-menopausal women.2  Conversely, deficiencies in manganese have been correlated with lower bone density and bone strength.5
    Other studies involving animals have shown that a lack of manganese in those animals caused improper formation of bone and cartilage.5,8  It is clear that manganese, while not a traditional ingredient in our bone, plays an essential role in the production of the proteins found in organic matrices, such as bone.5  One study has shown that insufficient manganese can lead to ACCELERATED bone loss!8

  • Nickel

  • Selenium
  •   Selenium appears to be one of the least understood trace minerals in terms of how it impacts bone and joint health, but studies show that it does appear to have a positive impact.
    In a recent study, scientists clipped the toenails of 940 volunteers and measured the amount of selenium in each sample. They also tested the volunteers for incidence of osteoarthritis. They found that the group of volunteers who had osteoarthritis, also had lower levels of selenium in their bodies than the people who didn't have osteoarthritis. While the scientists are not sure how low levels of selenium contribute to osteoarthritis, they found that for every additional 0.1 parts per million of selenium in the toenails, there was a 15 to 20 percent lower risk of osteoarthritis in the knees!16 In another study, scientist used Heparin (a blood thinning drug) on rabbits to induce conditions of osteoporosis. Once the rabbits exhibited the signs of osteoporosis, they were given a combination of vitamins E and C. While these vitamins helped partially prevent osteoporosis in the rabbits, once selenium was added to the mix, the rabbits' bone structure virtually returned to normal!17

  • Strontium
  •        Strontium is a common element which is naturally found in your bones. Studies show supplementation with Strontium in its various forms is well tolerated and completely safe. Strontium lies directly below calcium on the periodic table of elements and that makes calcium, strontium and magnesium all in the same chemical family. They are all naturally occurring metals found in the soil, in foods, and in your body.
    As an alkaline earth element, strontium is similar to calcium in its absorption in the gut, incorporation in bone, and elimination from the body through the kidneys. Strontium is naturally present in trace amounts with around 100 micrograms in every gram of bone, so when you supplement with strontium you are simply making more of this element available for incorporation into your bone.

  • Vanadium
  •        Vanadium is another trace mineral that we do not understand the role of very well, yet it clearly has an effect on the health of our bones. In research with goats, scientists have noted skeletal deformations in the legs of vanadium deprived goats.1 In in vitro tests on bone cells, vanadate, a compound containing vanadium, has been shown to stimulate bone cell proliferation.1 It was also shown to stimulate collagen (the organic part of bone that provides strength and flexibility) synthesis.
    Vanadium has also shown that it helps promote bone health without negative side effects. In a study involving both diabetic and non-diabetic rats, vanadium compounds were shown to increase bone formation without any adverse health effects!18

  • Zinc
  •    The mineral zinc is another metal that helps us maintain bone health. Studies have found zinc to be ESSENTIAL in bone metabolism as a cofactor for specific enzymes, and has been proven effective in increasing the spinal bone mass density of post-menopausal women.2 Appropriate doses of zinc can help prevent osteoporosis!3 Zinc also plays a role in the activity of osteoblasts in our bodies, the cells that actually build up our bone.5 It aids in the production of collagen, and has also been correlated with low insulin growth factors, something scientist speculate is associated with age related bone loss!5


The Bone Health Benefits of Nickel

Unfortunately there isn't very much information in the benefits of nickel to our bone health. We do know, however, that if you do not have enough nickel in your diet it can affect the distribution and functioning of other nutrients in the body, including calcium.1 Given the obvious benefit calcium has on our bones, it isn't difficult to see that maintaining adequate levels of nickel is therefore an important factor in maintaining or building healthy bone!

The Bone Health Benefits of Selenium

Selenium appears to be one of the least understood trace minerals in terms of how it impacts bone and joint health, but studies show that it does appear to have a positive impact.
In a recent study, scientists clipped the toenails of 940 volunteers and measured the amount of selenium in each sample. They also tested the volunteers for incidence of osteoarthritis. They found that the group of volunteers who had osteoarthritis, also had lower levels of selenium in their bodies than the people who didn't have osteoarthritis. While the scientists are not sure how low levels of selenium contribute to osteoarthritis, they found that for every additional 0.1 parts per million of selenium in the toenails, there was a 15 to 20 percent lower risk of osteoarthritis in the knees!16 In another study, scientist used Heparin (a blood thinning drug) on rabbits to induce conditions of osteoporosis. Once the rabbits exhibited the signs of osteoporosis, they were given a combination of vitamins E and C. While these vitamins helped partially prevent osteoporosis in the rabbits, once selenium was added to the mix, the rabbits' bone structure virtually returned to normal!17

The Bone Health Benefits of Vanadium

Vanadium is another trace mineral that we do not understand the role of very well, yet it clearly has an effect on the health of our bones. In research with goats, scientists have noted skeletal deformations in the legs of vanadium deprived goats.1 In in vitro tests on bone cells, vanadate, a compound containing vanadium, has been shown to stimulate bone cell proliferation.1 It was also shown to stimulate collagen (the organic part of bone that provides strength and flexibility) synthesis.
Vanadium has also shown that it helps promote bone health without negative side effects. In a study involving both diabetic and non-diabetic rats, vanadium compounds were shown to increase bone formation without any adverse health effects!18

The Bone Heath Benefits of Zinc

The mineral zinc is another metal that helps us maintain bone health. Studies have found zinc to be ESSENTIAL in bone metabolism as a cofactor for specific enzymes, and has been proven effective in increasing the spinal bone mass density of post-menopausal women.2 Appropriate doses of zinc can help prevent osteoporosis!3 Zinc also plays a role in the activity of osteoblasts in our bodies, the cells that actually build up our bone.5 It aids in the production of collagen, and has also been correlated with low insulin growth factors, something scientist speculate is associated with age related bone loss!5

References
1. Nutritional Requirements for Boron, Silicon, Vanadium, Nickel, and Arsensic: Current Knowledge and Speculation; Nielsen, FH; United States Department of Agriculture, The FASEB Journal, Vol. 5, Pages 2661-2667, September 1991.
2. The Role of Trace Minerals in Osteoporosis; Saltman PD, Strause LG; J Am Coll Nutr. 1993 Aug 12(4):384-9.
3. Aaseth, J., Osteoporosis - minerals and trace substances, Department of Internal Medicince, Kongsvinger Hospital.
4. Vegetables Without Vitamins, LE Magazine March 2001, www.soiland health.org, as viewed Oct. 24, 2007.
5. Patrick, Lyn, N.D., Comparative Absorption of Calcium Sources and Calcium Citrate Malate for the Prevention of Osteoporosis, Alternative Medicine Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 1999.
6. Strause L, Saltman P, Smith KT, Bracker M, Andon MB, Spinal Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women Supplemented wit h Calcium and Trace Minerals, J Nutr. 1994;124(7):1060-4
7. Jugdaohsingh R, Tucker KL, Qiao N, Cupples LA, Kiel DP, Powell JJ, Dietary Silicon Intake is Positively Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Men and Premenopausal Women of the Framingham Offspring Cohort, J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Feb;19(2):297-307
8. Schauss, Alexander G., Manganese, AIBR Life Sciences Division, www.traceminerals.com/products/manga.html, visited on 1/22/2007
9. Manganese Supplements (Systemic), www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202618.html, visited on 1/22/2007
10. New Hope FFN, www.ffnmag.com, visited 3/17/2006
11. Scientists Concerned at Plummeting Nutrient Levels, www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=66440, visited 3/15/2006
12. Potter B., Chelated Minerals - Magic or Myth?, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/beef/facts/info_minerals.htm visited 8/18/2003
13. Silicon: An Overlooked Trace Mineral; www.arthritissupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/739 visited 8/18/2003
14. "Dietary mineral." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 18 Oct 2007, 08:26 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 29 Oct 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dietary_mineral&oldid=165367296>.
15. The Importance of Mineral Health, Marsh, David E., www.positivehealth.com/permin/articles/nutrition/marsh48.htm visited 8/19/2003
16. Low selenium levels tied to osteoarthritis, U.S. News and World Report http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/bonehealth/hb051121a.htm , visited 10/29/07
17. Selenium combined with vitamin E and vitamin C restores structural alterations of bones in heparin-induced osteoporosis, Turan et al., Clinical Rheumatology, 22(6):432-436, February 18, 2004.
18. The effects of vanadium treatment on bone in diabetic and non-diabetic rats; Facchini DM, Yuen VG, Battell ML, McNeill JH, Grynpas MD; Bone. 2006 Mar;38(3):368-77. Epub 2005 Oct 26.
19. Trace Minerals for Cattle, Littlefield J., http://ag.arizona.edu/ANS/research/research_07.pdf visited 10/30/07.


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