DETECTING SUBCLINICAL DEFICIENCY OF ESSENTIAL TRACE-ELEMENTS IN CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ZINC AND SELENIUM

Objective: This article reviews situations in which we should be alert to the risk of trace element deficiencies, and the difficulties of as sessing trace element status, as illustrated by states of potential su bclinical deficiency of zinc and selenium in infants. Conclusion: Defi ciency states of many trace elements have been documented in infants, and there is probably an underdiagnosed group of infants with subclini cal deficiency, from which however the great majority are protected by effective regulatory systems. Specific, sensitive, and reliable metho ds are needed for the detection of trace element imbalances.