Supplemental Minerals and Vitamins
Although the majority of individuals struggle every day to take balanced diets, sometimes the vitamin and mineral content in such foods is never enough for a healthy living. In addition, considering the trace amount of these essential elements in food, sometimes it necessitates one to use supplements rich in vitamins and minerals. Correct dosages of both mineral and vitamin supplements have few related side effects but overdose can result in serious health complications, whereby mineral supplements’ effects are worse as compared to effects resulting from an overdose of vitamin supplements (Dudek, 2009, pp. 126-131). This is because the majority of vitamins are water-soluble; hence, in most cases, their elimination from the body is easy as compared to minerals that form complex compounds in the body.
In addition, the majority of effects resulting from vitamin overdose: vomiting, queasiness, and diarrhea, are treatable because of their less complex nature. It is important to note here that, some of these complications are treatable; some complications resulting from an overdose of some vitamin injections for example vitamin K can cause serious liver damages whereas vitamin B-12, can cause Leber’s disease and vascular thrombosis; although they occur rarely (Pott &Wong, 2006, pp. 1357-1359). On the other hand, as compared to vitamin supplements, overdose complications of mineral supplements are worse because the majority of them result in organic failures in the body functioning. For example, an overdose of iron can result in many health problems that are irreversible namely: liver cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, and neutropenia. Potassium too can cause hyperkalemia; a complication that affects the heart’s functioning (Craig, 2010, p.1).
On the other hand, it is also important to note that, although overdose of vitamins can resulinto health complications, the termination of their usage can reverse most of the effects. This is contrary to many effects resulting from mineral supplements because not only do they lead to irreversible health complications, but also they have an inhibiting effect on the absorption of other important mineral elements; a case common with Zinc.
Toxicity and Deficiencies of Trace Elements
Trace elements primarily aid the body’s biological process, which includes the immunological and enzymatic process. Lack of these elements therefore results in many healthy complications, a case that is worse when it comes to their toxicity. Toxicity results from inhibition of enzymatic processes, which may result from risky material contained in food or excess amounts of trace elements in the body. In most cases, trace element deficiency results to health complications that proper treatment can reverse, a case different when it comes to toxicity. This is because trace element deficiency only affects the body’s metabolic processes, whereas toxicity alters the chemical composition of the body; causing more severe damages to body organs. It is important to note that, not all trace elements are essential for the well functioning o the body’s metabolic and enzymatic process; hence, their deficiencies in most cases result to mild health complication. For example, among the commonly known, trace elements namely: iron, zinc, silicon, tin, selenium, vanadium, manganese, nickel, chromium, vanadium, copper, cobalt, fluorine, iodine, molybdenum, and arsenic , only few are of great significance to the body’s physiological processes namely: Silicon, Nickel, Vanadium ,Fluorine, arsenic, and Tin. Considering this fact, although their deficiency may result to some heath problems, toxicity is more dangerous due poisoning (Arthur &Chester, 1988, pp. 39-42).
For example the element tin, lack of tin in the body may result to stunted growth, hair loss, and some problems in the hearing system; problems that other food material can alleviate, hence making tin of “little” significance to the body. The case is more adverse when it comes to its toxicity due to associated damages that its toxicity may cause to the endocrine, nervous, and the digestive system (Tin: Health effects, 2010, p.1).
In conclusion, although the consumption of trace elements and mineral supplements is important for the well-being of the body, individuals should control their consumption rate because of the associated side effects, which may result due to poor health practices or processes.
References
Arthur, J. R., & Chester, J. K. (1988). Early biochemical defects caused by dietary trace elements Deficiencies. Nutritional Research Reviews, 1, 39-56. Web.
Craig, W. Use of Multivitamin and mineral supplements. Nutrition and Wellness Department: Andrews University. Web.
Dudek, S. G. (2009) Nutrition essentials for nursing practice (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishers.
Pott, J. W., & Wong, K. H. (2006). Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy and vitamin B12 deficiency. Graefes Arch Cli Exp Ophthalmol, 244 (10), 1357–1359.
Tin: health effects. Health Benefits & Toxicity of the Element Tin and its Effect in Adrenals, depression and fatigue. Web.