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Western Human Nutrition Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, E-mail: jking{at}whnrc.usda.gov
edited by JD Bogden and LM Klevay, 2000, 397 pages, hardcover. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.
New claims about the special health benefits of a particular nutrient appear in the press almost daily. In the area of trace elements, 2 examples of such claims include the role of zinc lozenges in treating the common cold and the value of chromium supplements in enhancing muscle mass. Clinical Nutrition of the Essential Trace Elements and Minerals carefully reviews the scientific literature regarding the function of essential trace elements in specific health conditions or in groups of diseases. Excellent practical information is provided. The in-depth discussions are timely and include comprehensive reference lists and many relevant figures and tables.
The book is organized into 4 major sections: 1) basic concepts, consumption, deficiency, and toxicity; 2) trace element and mineral nutrition in healthy people; 3) trace element and mineral nutrition in disease; and 4) a short appendix with a guide to relevant literature. There are 21 chapters, each of which is authored by an expert in that field; 10 of the 21 chapters focus on various diseases. Within each chapter, all of the essential trace elements relevant to the condition or group of diseases are discussed. Those minerals reviewed include 9 essential trace elements (chromium, copper, fluoride, iron, iodine, molybdenum, manganese, selenium, and zinc) and 3 macrominerals (calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus). In most cases, each mineral is discussed separately. Lengthier discussions of the interactions among trace elements and minerals in disease states would have been useful.
In the first section, the review of possible essential trace elements is comprehensive and includes an excellent reference list. Also, the chapter on current dietary intakes of trace elements and minerals provides many tables with valuable data on national consumption patterns. The chapter on consumption of trace elements and minerals by preagricultural humans is fascinating and is an excellent review of this topic. The apparent high intake of most minerals documented by the author challenges current concepts about toxicity. The chapter on assessment of trace element status focuses on laboratory measurements. Inclusion of behavioral and physiologic indicators of status would have strengthened this chapter.
The second section contains 4 outstanding chapters on pregnancy, lactation, adolescence, and the elderly. A chapter on infants and young children would have made this section a complete review of the entire life cycle.
The third, and largest, section discusses genetic, endocrine, skeletal, cardiovascular, kidney, gastrointestinal, infectious, surgical, and ophthalmologic disorders. Two chapters are devoted to infectious disorders; one deals with immune dysfunction and the other with HIV infection and AIDS. Both chapters are excellent. The discussion of genetic disorders is also very good. However, given the vast amount of research on trace elements and diabetes or hypertension, it is unfortunate that the editors did not include a chapter on these common health problems. Also, some discussion of fuel metabolism and obesity would have been useful and the absence of a chapter on the importance of minerals in cancer is notable. The treatment of cancer patients is discussed briefly in the chapter on enteral and parenteral nutrition, but there is no in-depth discussion of the role of trace element or mineral intake in reducing, or possibly increasing, the risk of cancer.
Although several topics in clinical nutrition are omitted from this book, the reviews provided on the scientific bases for the role of minerals in human biology and health are excellent. The book is probably too specialized to be used as a textbook for a course in clinical nutrition; however, it is an excellent reference for members of the health profession, nutrition researchers, and college and university faculty.