Trace Elements Article

Trace Elements

by Bernhard Muschlien, H.P.

Trace elements are basic metal and mineral substances which are essential to the biochemical processes of metabolism (Krebs cycle and respiratory chain). Without them a harmonious interaction between enzymes and vitamins in the body would not be possible.

Approximately 60 different trace elements are present in the human body. Some of them occur in concentrations of more than 10-4, related to a body weight of 154 lbs. Among them are:

Calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, chloride, sulfur and germanium.

Others occur in even more diminished concentrations, but are absolutely necessary for life. Without them humans could not exist. Most important among them are:

Chromium, iron, fluorine, iodine, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silicon, vanadium, zinc, tin, and possibly lithium.

One trace element cannot assume the tasks of another. However, an overload, especially of heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead, etc.), can force trace elements out of their enzyme compound, thus reducing or blocking their effectiveness.

For instance, organisms need cobalt for the vitamin B12 synthesis. Copper- zinc-manganese are needed for the enzyme "superoxide-dismutase." These trace elements cannot be replaced by others. Therefore, a deficiency or imbalance in trace elements will inevitably result in the failure of a specific chain of action.

All of them are biologically important and have a dynamic, bio-activating or regulating effect.

Fortunately, blocked or derailed biochemical exchange processes can be ignited or put on the right track with appropriate trace mineral supplementation.

Metabolic Processes

Today's lifestyle causes a multitude of disorders and metabolic dysfunctions in humans as well as animals. Denatured food items, contaminated drinking water, polluted air, etc. increase the toxic stresses of our civilization.

The decomposing and absorption of food is accomplished by enzymes and redox (reduction/oxidation) processes. The purpose is to generate energy.

A redox system is the systematic conversion of matter provided to the body through reaction products. This process ensures time release of energy through oxidation in the cell (citric acid cycle and respiratory chain). Enzymes are proteins that enable or accelerate these chemical processes. Without them, a well-regulated metabolism, and thus life, would not be possible.

Redox reactions create so-called free radicals. Free radicals are molecular fragments that react spontaneously within 1/1000 second with adjacent molecules. This reaction of the free radical stealing an electron from an adjacent molecule is a damaging process. To a degree this is necessary in order to break up protein, sugar and fat structures foreign to the body. If free radicals are not completely neutralized at the "moment of creation" (in statu nascendi), cell damage will occur. Especially affected are the energy- generating organelle systems (mitochondria). This process will also depolarize the cell membranes.

Inherent "free radical scavengers," consisting of enzymes and antioxidants, take care of the "neutralization and detoxification." They act as a protective mechanism for the metabolism.

The Central Factor

Health can decline due to an excess of free radical activities from metabolic dysfunction, toxins in food (e.g. insecticides), air borne pollutants (e.g. smoking) or by impairing the scavenger system.

Changes can start with minor inflammation, leading to cancer and genetic damage. Even the aging process can be accelerated this way.

Biological Medicine must include support for the free radical scavenger system in order to keep free radicals in check.

Enzymes are the basic structure of this scavenger system and enzymes need trace elements for their chemical structure. They are the locomotive for enzymes and vitamins. Therefore, the absorption of trace elements is absolutely necessary to initiate chemical reactions between enzymes and vitamins. Without this perfectly harmonious interaction, the entire metabolism and the removal of waste could not function at all. This is the central factor in the chemical mechanism of life.

Balance Control

A lack of trace elements leads to a deficiency of all active processes in living organisms. For instance, an excessively high concentration of metals would result in the inhibition of the enzyme activity, and an excessively low concentration would result in disturbances in vitamin synthesis, reducing metabolism.

Similarly, an excess of the required elements can cause disorders as well. For instance:

Therefore, it is very important that all trace elements are biologically available in the correct concentrations and at the appropriate ratio to each other.

For that reason, trace elements cannot be considered individually and isolated from each other.

For instance, the transport of iron is one of the functions of copper. Without copper, iron could not be absorbed in the body.

On the other hand, without the presence of molybdenum, copper would not be able to perform its function adequately.

It is known that hormones appear in the body only in very low concentrations. Their effectiveness is not dependent on their "mass" but on the "information" they convey.

In nature, the mold Aspergillus niger cannot grow in the absence of magnesium. A minimum concentration of 10^-8 is efficient for the formation of the reproductive black conidia. The efficiency of these extremely low concentration levels was the scientific basis to understand the efficacy in human cells at levels as low as 10^-12 to 10^-3.

The Ionic Solution

A simple example of the Ionic Process is unrefined, pure cooking salt poured into water. This becomes a homogeneous solution which is completely dissolved. The solution is evenly concentrated at all points. In other words, it is homogeneous. This is due to a specific electrochemical process called dissociation. In this process, the salt molecule decomposes into its individual components that are then present in ionized form (electrically charged). Therefore, such a solution is also able to conduct electricity.

Trace elements in ionized form are biologically available in an instant. In their ionically dissolved state they have the advantage to be incorporated into the enzyme complexes synthesized in the body, without requiring a high degree of metabolic activity.

Another way to provide trace elements is through a colloidal solution. Here the element is coupled to protein molecules. This compound needs to undergo two steps in the body before it can become biochemically active.

1. HCL has to precipitate the protein so that the enzyme protease can split the protein from the element.
2. The separated element must then be ionized in the GI tract and then it can be absorbed.

Ionized Trace Elements are available immediately for metabolic processes in the body no matter how weak the organism and digestive tract may be. A few drops on the tongue, and the body interacts without any additional intermediate steps.

Ionized Trace Elements, as a supplement, have been used in Europe for over 30 years in Biological Medicine and play an essential part in cell regeneration.

References

1. Conney and Burns, "Experimental Proofs for Counter Effort," "AdvanceEnzyme Regulation," (Pergamon Press, 1963, Vol I).
2. Bertram, "Trace Elements," (Baltimore: Urban and Schwarzenberg). n.p., n.d.
3. M. Deville, "Real Task of Trace Minerals," (Montreux: Corbaz). n.p., n.d.
4. S. Grabowski, "Effective Therapy with Radical Scavengers). n.p., n.d.
5. D. Harman, "Radicals and Aging," (Omaha: University of Nebraska). n.p., n.d.
6. Hersbruck, "Micro Trace Minerals," n.p., n.d.
7. B. Muschlien, "The Somaplex Line," (Golden: RMS Publishing, 1994), pp. 60-75.
8. Scientific Literature, trans. (Karlsruhe: Medical Reading Book), n.p., n.d.
9. Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (Medical Dictionary), n.p., n.d.
10. Wallenfels and Weil, "Repression der Alkalischen, Phosphatase durch Phosphat, trans." (Molekularbiologie, 1967), n.p.
11. Worrwag Pharma, "Zinkblatter, trans." n.p., n.d.