MINERAL NEEDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30393, 18 March 1964, Page 8

MINERAL NEEDS

Part Of Trace Elements

“The era of understanding the action of trace minerals on human health has just begun,” Dr. Muriel H. Bell, of the New Zealand Medical Research Council, said in her presidential address to the physiology, biochemistry, and nutrition section of the congress of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science in Canberra recently. The address is reported in the association's journal, “The Australian Journal of Science.” Dr. Bell mentioned fluorine, molybdenum, cobalt, selenium, chromium and manganese as elements which seemed to be required in minute quantities for human health. Fluorine and molybdenum were needed in childhood for sound teeth. Cobalt and selenium had been shown to be necessary to sheep, and rats fed on a selenium-free diet developed Vitamin B deficiency, and on a diet free of both selenium and Vitamin E died of a liver condition.

“Food laws that require ‘no selenium’ in foods and feeds are now outdated,” said Dr. Bell. “The laws were made in the belief that selenium is a toxic element, a belief that is valid for excessive amounts but is contrary to recent knowledge of biological requirements. “Latterly, chromium has been added to the list of factors having a clinical implication. The rare disease of ‘bronze diabetes’ is actually the result of chromium deficiency.” Manganese poisoning symptoms had been demonstrated to be similar in man to those of Parkinson’s disease, said Dr. Bell. Manganese was said to be selectively concentrated into the so-called “melanin” cells of the brain.

Voyager Fund. United States Antarctic operation men have contributed £690 towards the distress fund for dependants of Australian Navy men who lost their lives in the sinking of the destroyer H.M.A.S. Voyager.— (P.A.)