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As well as vitamins and more common minerals ‐ such as calcium, iodine and iron ‐ a healthy diet includes many other substances.
This section has information on:
Beta-carotene gives yellow and orange fruit and vegetables their colour. It's turned into vitamin A in the body, so it can perform the same functions in the body as vitamin A.
The main food sources of beta-carotene are:
You should be able to get the amount of beta-carotene you need from your daily diet.
Beta-carotene supplements have been found to increase the risk of lung cancer developing in smokers and in people who have been heavily exposed to asbestos at work.
It's possible that taking large amounts of beta-carotene supplements could also increase the risk of cancer in other people.
Some research suggests that having large amounts of vitamin A over a long period may affect people's bones and make them more likely to fracture when they are older. However, beta-carotene does not have this effect. This is because the body's conversion of beta-carotene into vitamin A is not very efficient, so it's unlikely to result in high levels of vitamin A in the body.
You should be able to get the amount of beta-carotene you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you decide to take beta-carotene supplements, it's important not to take too much, because this could be harmful.
Don't take more than 7mg of beta-carotene supplements a day, unless advised to by a doctor.
People who smoke or who have been exposed to asbestos are advised not to take any beta-carotene supplements.
There is no evidence that the beta-carotene we get from food is harmful.
Boron is a trace element, which means the body only needs very small amounts of it. Boron is thought to help the body make use of glucose, fats, oestrogen and other minerals, such as calcium, copper and magnesium, in the food we eat.
Boron is found widely in the environment, in the oceans, rocks, soils and plants. Food sources of boron include:
You should be able to get all the boron you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of boron supplements for long periods may reduce fertility in men.
You should be able to get all the boron you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take supplements containing boron, don't take too much, as this could be harmful.
Taking 6mg or less of boron supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.
Chromium is a trace element thought to influence how the hormone insulin behaves in the body. This means chromium may affect the amount of energy we get from food.
Chromium is found widely in the environment, in air, water and soil, and in plants and animals.
Good food sources of chromium include:
Adults need at least 0.025mg of chromium a day.
You should be able to get all the chromium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
There is not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of chromium each day.
You should be able to get all the chromium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
If you take chromium supplements, don't take too much, because this might be harmful.
Having 10mg or less a day of chromium from food and supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Cobalt is a trace element that forms part of the structure of vitamin B12 ‐ one of the B vitamins.
Cobalt is found widely in the environment. Good food sources of cobalt include:
You should be able to get all the cobalt you need from your daily diet.
Cobalt is a major part of the structure of vitamin B12. Therefore, if you get enough vitamin B12, you will also get enough cobalt.
Adults need approximately 0.0015mg of vitamin B12 a day.
Having high amounts of cobalt for long periods of time could affect the heart and might decrease fertility in men.
Having too much cobalt could be harmful. However, cobalt is currently not used in supplements in the UK and the amount we get from food is not harmful.
Having 1.4mg or less a day of cobalt supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Copper is a trace element that has several important functions. For example, it:
Good sources of copper include:
Adults need 1.2mg of copper a day.
You should be able to get all the copper you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of copper could cause:
You should be able to get all the copper you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take copper supplements, don't take too much, because this could be harmful.
Having 1mg or less a day of copper supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Magnesium is a mineral that, among other things:
Magnesium is found in a wide variety of foods, such as:
The amount of magnesium you need is:
You should be able to get all the magnesium you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of magnesium (more than 400mg) for a short time can cause diarrhoea.
There is not enough evidence to say what the effects might be of taking high doses of magnesium for a long time.
You should be able to get all the magnesium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take magnesium supplements, don't take too much, because this could be harmful.
Having 400mg or less a day of magnesium from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Manganese is a trace element that helps make and activate some of the enzymes in the body.
Manganese is found in a variety of foods, including:
You should be able to get all the manganese you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of manganese for long periods of time might cause muscle pain, nerve damage and neurological symptoms, such as fatigue and depression.
You should be able to get all the manganese you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take manganese supplements, don't take too much, as this could be harmful.
For most people, taking 4mg or less of manganese supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.
For older people, taking 0.5mg or less of manganese supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm. This is a lower amount because older people may be more sensitive to manganese.
Molybdenum is a trace element that helps make and activate some of the enzymes involved in repairing and making genetic material.
Molybdenum is found in a wide variety of foods. Foods that grow above ground tend to be higher in molybdenum than foods that grow below the ground, such as potatoes or carrots.
Good sources of molybdenum include:
You should be able to get all the molybdenum you need from your daily diet.
There is some evidence to suggest taking molybdenum supplements might cause joint pain.
You should be able to get all the molybdenum you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. The molybdenum we get from food is not likely to be harmful.
Nickel is a trace element that:
Nickel is found widely in the environment. Good food sources include:
You should be able to get all the nickel you need from your daily diet.
Up to 10% of people in the UK may have an allergy to nickel that causes a skin rash.
This is usually caused by jewellery or coins that contain nickel, but nickel in food or supplements can also cause a rash if you have this allergy.
You should be able to get all the nickel you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
If you are allergic to nickel or think you might be, avoid taking nickel supplements.
The nickel found naturally in food should not cause any harm.
Phosphorus is a mineral that helps to build strong bones and teeth, and helps to release energy from food.
Phosphorus is present in many foods. Good sources include:
Adults need 550mg of phosphorus a day.
You should be able to get all the phosphorus you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of phosphorus supplements for a short time can cause diarrhoea or stomach pain.
Taking high doses for a long time can reduce the amount of calcium in the body, which means that bones are more likely to fracture.
You should be able to get all the phosphorus you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take phosphorus supplements, it's important not to take too much, because this could be harmful.
Taking 250mg or less a day of phosphorus supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Potassium is a mineral that has many important functions, including:
Potassium is found in most types of food. Good sources of potassium include:
Adults need 3,500mg of potassium a day. You should be able to get all the potassium you need from your daily diet.
Taking too much potassium can cause stomach pain, nausea and diarrhoea.
You should be able to get all the potassium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take potassium supplements, don't take too much, because this could be harmful.
Taking 3,700mg or less of potassium supplements a day is unlikely to have obvious harmful effects.
However, older people may be more at risk of harm from potassium. This is because as we get older, our kidneys may become less able to remove potassium from our blood. Therefore, older people should not take potassium supplements unless advised to by a doctor.
Selenium is a trace element that plays an important role in our immune system's function and in reproduction. It also helps to prevent damage to cells and tissues.
Selenium is found widely in the environment. Good food sources include:
The amount of selenium you need is:
If you eat meat, fish or nuts, you should be able to get all the selenium you need from your daily diet.
Too much selenium causes selenosis ‐ a condition that, in its mildest form, can lead to loss of hair, skin and nails.
You should be able to get all the selenium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet including meat, fish or nuts. If you take selenium supplements, it's important not to take too much, because this could be harmful.
Taking 0.35mg or less a day of selenium supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Silicon is a mineral that helps keep bones and connective tissues healthy.
Silicon is found in high levels in grains such as oats, barley and rice. It's also found in fruit and vegetables.
You should be able to get all the silicon you need from your daily diet.
There is not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high doses of silicon supplements each day.
You should be able to get all the silicon you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take silicon supplements, it is important not to take too much, because this might be harmful.
Taking 700mg or less of silicon supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm.
Sodium chloride is commonly known as salt. Sodium and chloride are minerals that are needed by the body in small amounts to help keep the level of fluids in the body balanced.
Chloride helps the body to digest food because it's an essential component of the fluids in the stomach and intestines.
Salt is found naturally at low levels in all foods, but some salt is added to many processed foods, such as:
You should have no more than 6g of salt (2.4g of sodium) a day. However, on average, people in the UK eat 8.1g of salt (about 3.2g of sodium) a day, which is much more than the body needs.
A few practical tips for cutting down on salt include:
Read more facts about salt, cutting down on salt and how much salt is good for me?
Having too much salt is linked to an increase in blood pressure (hypertension), which raises your risk of a stroke and heart attack.
On average, we eat 2.1g more salt than we should each day.
The Department of Health advises people to cut down on salt and that sodium chloride should not be used in supplements.
Sulphur is a mineral involved in many different processes. For example, it helps to make tissues, such as cartilage.
Sulphur is found naturally in many different forms in all foods. It's also used in the form of sulphates and sulphites as food additives in some processed foods.
You can get all the sulphur you need from your daily diet.
You can get all the sulphur you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
Zinc is a trace element that has several important functions. For example, it:
Zinc is found widely in the environment. Good food sources of zinc include:
The amount of zinc you need is about:
You should be able to get all the zinc you need from your daily diet.
Taking high doses of zinc reduces the amount of copper the body can absorb. This can lead to anaemia and weakening of the bones.
You should be able to get all the zinc you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take zinc supplements, it's important not to take too much, because this could be harmful.
Don't take more than 25mg of zinc supplements a day, unless advised to by a doctor.
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