Minerals necessary in minute amounts in the diet to maintain health. Examples are chromium, copper, zinc, and selenium. (See also nutrition.)
Chemical elements that are distributed throughout the tissues of the body in very small amounts and are essential for the nutrition of the body. Nine such elements are now recognised: cobalt, copper, ?uorine, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.
an element that is required in minute concentrations for normal growth and development; the body contains a total of <5 g of the element. Trace elements include fluorine (see fluoride), manganese, *zinc, copper, *iodine, cobalt, *selenium, molybdenum, *chromium, and silicon. They may serve as *cofactors or as constituents of complex molecules (e.g. cobalt in vitamin B12).... trace element
Health Encyclopedia