END-POINTS FOR DETERMINING MINERAL ELEMENT REQUIREMENTS - AN INTRODUCTION

There are numerous measures of essential mineral element status, inclu ding growth rate, tissue and physiological fluid concentrations, enzym e concentrations and activities, chemical balance and mobilizable stor es. For the adult human, blood and its specific nutrient concentration s provide a useful but frequently inadequate index. The first limiting biochemical system should provide the most valid index, but in many c ases it is unknown or not readily measured. Chemical balance and mobil izable stores provide valid measures but are difficult to determine. T wo indices are infinitely more valuable than one and should be determi ned if possible. More research is needed to establish valid indicators of nutritional status for mineral elements.