Elements

Sources

Significance

Effects of deficiency.

Macro Elements

Calcium(Ca)

Milk,
cereals, Required for formation of teeth and Weak teeth and bones;
Cheese,
Green Bones, blood clotting, function of retarded body growth.
Vegetables.
nerves and muscles
Weak teeth and bones;
retarded body growth
and physiology.

Phosphorus(
P)
Sulphur(S)

Many
food.

proteins

of Component of many amino acids.

Distributed
metabolism.

protein

Potassium(K) Meat,

milk, Required for acid-base balance, Low blood pressure,

cereals, fruits and water regulation and function of weak muscles; risk of
vegetables.
nerves..
paralysis..

Chlorine(Cl)

Table salt

Required for acid base balance; Loss

of
appetite;
component of gastric juice.
muscles cramps

Magnesium(
Mg)

Cereals,
vegetables.

green Cofactor of many enzymes of

glycolysis and a number of another
metabolic reactions dependent upon
ATP

Iron(Fe)

Meat,
cereals,
vegetables.

eggs, Component of
green cytochromes.

Iodine(I)

Milk, cheese, sea important component of thyroxine Goitre, Cretinism

food, iodized salt
hormone

haemoglobin

Irregularities
of
metabolism principally
affecting
nervous
functions.

and Anaemia,
weakness
and weak immunity.

Micro Elements

Fluorine(F)

Drinking
water, Maintence of bones and teeth.
tea, sea food

Weak
teeth,
larger
amount causes motting
of teeth.

Zinc(Zn)

Cereals,
Milk, Cofactor of digestive and many other Retarded
growth,
eggs, meat, sea enzymes
anaemia, rough skin,
food
weak immunity and
fertility

Copper(Cu)

Meat, dry
pods,
vegetables,
food

Manganese(
MN)

Dry fruits, cereals, Cofactor of some enzymes of urea Irregular

growth
of
tea
fruits
and synthesis and transfer of phosphate bones, cartilages and
green vegetables
group
connective tissues

Cobalt(Co)

Milk, cheese, meat

fruits, Cofactor of cytochrome oxidase Anaemia, weak blood

green enzyme.
Necessary
for
iron vessels and connective
sea metabolism and development of tissues
blood vessels and connective tissues

Important component of vitamin B12 Anaemia

Selenium(SE) Meat, cereals, sea Cofactor of many enzymes; assists Muscular

food

Chromium(C
R)

Yeast, sea
meat,
vegetables

vitamin E

food, Important for catabolic metabolism

some

weakness
muscles

of

pain;
cardiac

Irregularities
of
catabolic
metabolism
and ATP production

Molybdenum
(MO)

Cereals,
pods, Cofactor of some enzymes
some vegetables

Irregular excretion of
nitrogenous
waste
products