1

Trace elements in human nutrition

Michael T Deans

Contents

1 Preface

2 Introduction, origin of life

4 Trace element nutrition

4 I. Motility

5 II. Sensitivity

6 III. Excretion

6 IV. Respiration

7 V. Growth

8 VI. Rigidity

9 VII. Assimilation

10 VIII. Reproduction

12 IX. Water pumping

14 References

Preface

In 1967, a chance observation led me to propose a ferroelectric tetragonal variant of ice-

Ic, ice-It, undergoes a photoelectric transition at ~72 K releasing infrared laser light of

wavelength λ ~ 4μ, ‘ice-light’. Researchers focus on extreme conditions, nobody’s tried

pouring water into liquid nitrogen at atmospheric pressure.

Life originated when snow fell into polar pools of liquid nitrogen and ice-It

crystallizing at its surface released ice-light, approximating Pi ~ Pi bond energy. On reaching

equatorial waters, ice-light polarized by multiple reflection photo-phosphorylated deoxy-

nucleotides, creating chiral DNA. Some formed transfer RNA analogues, ‘transport DNAs’.

They lined pores through proto-cell membranes with H-bonds.

tDNAs embedded in ‘coacervate’ proto-cell membranes, used ice-light energy to fill

them with life’s prerequisites. When a tDNA was replicated and the cell burst in two, each

daughter cell could repeat the process, life had started. Mutant tDNAs provided a varied

diet. Eventually, a family of 64 types evolved; each matching a substrate-carrier complex.

The carriers mostly consisted of trace element ions.

All forms of life inherit the same atomic alphabet and molecular vocabulary. Diets

deficient in micronutrients have arisen as human civilizations evolve. By cataloguing data

from medical, veterinary and pharmaceutical experience, traditions, philosophies and

beliefs, nine mutually independent biochemical systems have emerged. Each has an

associated nutrient requirement, chemistry and pathology. They offer a comprehensive

guide for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of most common maladies.

2

Introduction, origin of life

In February 1967, I surmised that ice

crystallizing in liquid nitrogen distorted a

silica helium thermometer bulb and

suggested it was a proton-ordered tetragonal

variant of cubic ice1. All its molecular

dipoles are aligned and its crystals contract

on cooling to accommodate the irregular

tetrahedral shape of water molecules. It

undergoes a

ferroelectric

phase transition2

at ~72 K,

releasing latent

energy as infrared

laser light, ice-

light, wavelength

λ ≈ ~4μ. Linus

Pauling showed that

ice has residual

entropy3 at 0 K, with its hydrogen bonds randomly oriented:

O•••H–O | O–H•••O.

My model for the origin of life assumes snow falling

into polar pools of liquid nitrogen during an extreme primordial ice age caused it to boil.

Water molecules carried to the surface crystallized to form ice It. Cyclic temperature

fluctuations drove its phase transition, issuing laser light with energy matching Pi ~ Pi bonds.

Multiple reflection by ice in clouds and on Earth’s surface delivered polarized light to

equatorial waters, photo-phosphorylating deoxy-nucleotides. They polymerized, forming a

DNA ‘noodle soup’, some forming transfer RNA analogues, ‘transport DNAs’, tDNAs.

tDNAs line membrane pores with H-bonds, depolarized by ice-light, propelling

charged trace element-substrate complexes into proto-cells. Their requirements determine

life’s atomic alphabet and a molecular vocabulary of carrier-substrate complexes.

Fig 1. Cubic-tetragonal

transition

Fig 2. Hole through

tRNA4

3

Fig 5. Pump uses membrane potential, Pi ~ P

i bond or ice-light

energy and lock-and-key substrate recognition

Fig 4. Periodic table of the elements showing essential,

toxic and unused elements with no biological role

H He Li Be B C N O F Ne

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe

Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Ti Pb Bi Po At Rn

Fr Rh Ac Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Ess Tox n/u

Fig 3. Ice-light makes DNA for origin of life

4

Trace element nutrition

I present nine mutually independent, mathematically orthogonal chemical systems,

each has an associated set of tDNAs, substrates, carriers, glands, hormones, vitamins and

health issues. Their number is determined by the symmetry of ‘minions’5:

# SYSTEM TISSUE CARRIER COMPLEXES PATHOLOGY

1 motility muscle Ca++

| Mg++

and SO3=

spasticity

2 sensitivity nerve Na+

| K+ and adrenalin depression

3 excretion kidney Mn++

and salt kidney failure

4 respiration lung I+ and O2.H2O bipolar

5 metabolism liver Cu++

and amino-acids growth defects

6 rigidity bone SiF6= | AlF6

≡ and apatite Alzheimer’s

7 assimilation gut Zn++

and glucose diabetes

8 reproduction gonads Ag+ and pyrophosphate cancer

9 water-pumping heart Ca++

| Mn++

and SeO3= heart disease

Table 1. Nine independent biological pathways

I. Motility

Energy is conducted through the membrane as

solitons by Vitamin A, alternately retinal or retinol

depending on pH, converting the sulphur in glutathione

to sulphite. Retinal’s conjugated (-C─C=C-)n bonds

conduct energy through the membrane as solitons6.

Sulphite and

selenite exchange

magnesium and

manganese respectively

for calcium. Magnesium catalyzes hydrolysis of ATP,

releasing photons of Pi ~ Pi bond energy, replacing life’s

original energy source, ice-light. The conversion of

chemical to mechanical energy in striated muscle involves

their ~2μ long ‘sarcomers’ contracting to resonate with

these photons. Silver is carrier for exchanging creatine and

creatinine phosphates. Creatine phosphate replenishes ATP,

sustaining muscle contraction.

Fig 6. Retinol & retinal

SO3

=

and SeO3

=

exchange ions -

>

Fig 7. SO3

=

and SeO3

=

exchange ions

5

II. Sensitivity

Nerve transmission transmits pain, catecholamines

(adrenalin. noradrenalin and dopamine) exchange

sodium and potassium at synapses. Sodium ions are the

same shape and size as H2O, forming a large hydrate,

Na+.28H2O, slowing cell chemistry by making the cell

sap viscous. Potassium ions bind less water, enabling

faster reactions.

H

H-bonded catecholamine rings

with 6- and 4-members exchange 2 K+

for 3 Na+. Cell charge and metabolic

rate change, the ‘fight or flight’

reaction7. Codeine and morphine create

larger complexes, preventing pain by

blocking the pump. Pain sensitivity

increases when more pumps are enrolled

to compensate, leading to drug

addiction.

Fig 9. Sodium hydrate

Fig 10. Catecholamines form 4- and 6-member rings round Na+

and K+

. Valinomycin mimics that round K+

.

Morphine and codeine form larger rings, blocking the tDNA.

Fig 8. Silver acts as carier for creatine and creatinine exchange

6

III. Excretion

Manganese ions form chloride complexes: MnCl3−, MnCl4

= and MnCl6

4−, carrying salt,

controlled by aldosterone, angiotensin, rennin, histamine and aspirin8. The ‘chloride shift’ is

catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase, a zinc-dependent enzyme, exchanging chloride with

bicarbonate, controlling pH: CO2 + H2O ↔ HCO3- + H

+.

IV. Respiration

Iron in erythrocyte haemoglobin transports oxygen,

breathing exchanges it for carbon dioxide. The thyroids pack

iodine into thyroxin, protons displace purple iodonium, I+

carrier for oxygen hydrate, O2.H2O. Iodine protects littoral

seaweeds from tidal fluctuations in oxygen concentration,

their colours match those of I+ and I

-.

Protons accelerated through tDNAs cause nitrogen,

oxygen and nitric oxide to bond with nicotinamide’s amide

group. Bacteria deploy this process to fix nitrogen, releasing

hydrogen, more efficient than the Haber process9.

Oxygen transport accounts for atmospheric

oxygen, equivalent to photolysis of water. Nitric oxide

controls vasodilation. Cyanide and carbon monoxide

block this tDNA.

Iodine deficiency causes swollen thyroids, goitre. Nerve cell oxygenation governs

mood, mutant tDNAs cause bipolar disorder, characterized by mania or depression with

excess or deficient oxygen. Lithium and iodine’s diagonal relationship in the periodic table

enables lithium to substitute for iodine to treat the condition. Iodide accumulation in the eyes

causes exopthalmos.

Fig 11. Thyroxin delivers

iodine, proton displaces I+

Fig 12. Nitrogen fixation, oxygen release, cyanide poisoning

and nitric oxide activation

7

V. Growth

Copper carries amino acids and the anterior pituitary gland packs it into growth

hormones. During protein synthesis on the endoplasmic reticulum, tRNAs transfer copper-

amino acid complexes through the membrane to ribosomes, c.f. Biuret test.

Failure causes gigantism

and dwarfism. Wilson’s disease

arises when copper accumulates in the eyes. Copper supplements

and bracelets may relieve

arthritis.

Strings of tDNAs bound to differentiation DNA, like tRNAs bound to mRNA, encode

‘hook’ proteins, determining cell differentiation. Biotechnologists could take a page from

nature’s book.

1. Eggs, sperm and immune system leukocytes have 1 hook

2. Spirogyra filaments have 2 hooks

3. Sponge sheets have 3 hooks

4. Worms’ bi-layers have 4 hooks

5. Liver and other organs use 5 hooks

6. Six hooks allow tumour and cancer growth, leukocytes control them.

Fig 13. Hook proteins define Fig 14. Copper controls protein

tissue morphology synthesis

8

VI. Rigidity

Calcium

has a high affinity with

fluoride, c.f. fluorspar, CaF2. Both the

parathyroid and adjacent coevolved thyroid

glands incorporate halides to hormones.

Continuous secretion of parathyroid

hormone prevents high fluoride concentration in these glands. Vitamin D stores ~265 nm

UV sunlight, matching Si─F bond energy for

assembling silicon hexafluoride at low pH:

SiO2 + 6 F- + 4 H

+ + UV-light → SiF6

= + 2 H2O.

Silicon hexafluoride carries calcium phosphate, apatite, maintaining bones and teeth.

The low pH associated with kidney failure and menopause reduces phosphate availability

and causes osteoporosis. Since phosphate is scarce, plants employ the same substrate-carrier

complex to form hard parts from silica. Air polluting sulphur and nitrogen oxides entering

stomata cause leaf-fall10

. Liming the soil isn’t effective, reducing pressure for legislative

action, acid rain arising from sulphur in diesel exhaust is unabated.

Fig 15. UV light primes vitamin D

to synthesise silicon hexafluoride

Fig 17. PTH delivers fluoride, vit A transfers energy from vit D to

synthesise SiF6

=

, carrier for apatite maintaining the skeleton

Fig 16. SiF6

=

-apatite complex

9

Acid air pollution and tobacco smoke render the cavity behind the nose acid,

promoting inappropriate silicon hexafluoride synthesis. When it passes along the olfactory

nerves to the brain, its breakdown releases fluoride, causing Alzheimer’s Disease11

. Fluoride

disrupts protein folding, yielding the characteristic protein tangles. (Those found in prion

diseases12

arise when a mutant tRNA misinterprets the mRNA sequence and incorporates the

wrong amino acid to some proteins. They fold the wrong way and aggregate to form tangles,

if the mutant tRNA becomes embedded in these proteins, it renders them infectious agents.)

Vitamin D deficiency in infancy causes rickets, corrected by cod liver oil, UV lamps

or sunlight. Tooth enamel hardens when the hydroxyl group in apatite is replaced with

fluoride. Fluoridation of water supplies counters tooth decay; cups of tea also supply

fluoride. Administering fluorinated anaesthetics promotes the synthesis of enzymes to

destroy them. Four days later, fluoride

is excreted as aluminium hexafluoride. The

simultaneous clearance of brain fluoride temporarily relieves dementia, suggesting

approaches to its prevention and treatment.

VII. Assimilation

When food is anticipated

(remember Pavlov’s dog) or its taste,

smell or presence is detected, the

pancreatic β-cells secrete zinc-insulin.

Zinc is carrier for βDglucose, priming

tDNA pumps. Glucose transport

mediates carbohydrate metabolism in

all forms of life. It maintains a steady

sugar concentration in animal blood

and the xylem and phloem of plants.

Some is stored as glycogen in the liver,

forms starch in leaves or is converted

to fat.

Zinc binds to the ‘triangle of

sweetness’13

found in insulin and

glucagon, a hormone synthesized in

pancreatic α-cells, disabling glucose

transport by returning zinc

to the pancreas. The triangle’s also found in barbiturates and Lgulonate derived from vitamin C.

LGulonate takes zinc to places insulin can’t reach. Vitamin C deficiency reduces zinc needed for

collagen synthesis, causing scurvy in ancient mariners, affecting their skin, fingers toes and

gonads, until limes rich in the vitamin were added to their food supply. Zinc sulphide in

Calamine™ lotion treats skin complaints

Fig 18. Vitamin C derivative

Lgulonate

and βDglucose complex with zinc

10

In 1923, Banting and Best received a Nobel prize for discovering insulin, in 1969

another Nobel laureate, Dorothy Hodgkin14

, determined its structure. Defective glucose

transport causes diabetes, originally diagnosed by sweet-tasting urine. Zinc accumulating in

the eye’s vitreous humour damages the retina, causing blindness. Diabetics often suffer

kidney damage and foot problems. Monitoring the zinc content of their diets and implanting

a device to measure both zinc and glucose levels might improve management.

Zinc controls our appetites for food and sex. Appetizers such as oysters and caviar

containing zinc are aphrodisiacs increasing libido and encourage snacking. Eating disorders

anorexia and bulimia respond to zinc supplements. Copper coil contraceptives prevent sperm

getting enough zinc to acquire glucose for swimming.

Bilirubin, released when adult haemoglobin replaces foetal haemoglobin should be

conjugated with glucose for excretion, else neonatal jaundice arises. Bilirubin getting to the

brain causes seizures, though normally treated by exposure to blue light, colostrum15

or

sucking a midwife’s zinc-based pewter spoon provides the necessary zinc.

Rhinoviruses causing colds and flu enter nasal cells via tDNAs; zinc and vitamin C

supplements16

prime them with zinc, blocking virus uptake. Binge drinking diverts zinc to

the liver to burn the alcohol, causing inebriety by preventing the brain getting enough sugar,

suggesting approaches to treating alcoholism. Barbiturates have the same effect, explaining

the lethality of combining barbiturates with alcohol.

Beryllium, lead and indium all mimic zinc. The Victorians used beryllium as a poison,

calling it ‘glucinium’ for its sweet taste. Ancient Romans died from using lead acetate as a

sweetener. Indium is diagonally related to zinc in the periodic table, endocrine glands may

exchange it with other divalent ions. A plethora of hormones are involved in regulating

obesity, indium supplements might replace gastric bands for managing obesity

.

VIII. Reproduction

The pineal gland distributes silver in 6-member serotonin rings similar to those

catecholamines form around potassium. Silver porphyrin17

is pink, the colour of leaf buds.

As described for motility, retinal transfers energy from silver porphyrin as solitons for

converting phosphate to pyrophosphate (Pi to PPi). The PPi complex with arginine provides

the atomic ingredients for copying DNA at cell division. Anti-cancer drugs mimic this

complex. The uses of Pi for managing energy, DNA synthesis and maintaining the skeleton

are handled separately.

11

Silver repairs tissues and regulates sleep, when deficient cancers may develop. Silver

colloids were widely used in medicine before the advent of antibiotics. Bone pathology is

assessed by assaying alkaline phosphatase.

Fig 19. Serotonin and Fig 20. Anti-cancer drugs mimic the

melatonin distribute Ag arginine-PPi complex

from the pineal gland

Fig 21. Arginine– PPi

Fig 22. Vit A conveys energy from Ag

complex porphyrin, converting Pi to PP

i

for transport by arginine

complex

12

IX. Water pumping

Membrane potential prevents water diffusing across. Phospho-mevalonate, the residue of saturated

fat breakdown, transports water across membranes,

it’s named after the herb Valerian, aka ‘all heal’.

Phospho-mevalonate releases a water molecule

when it forms a lactone ring. Water pumping involves

exchanging it with phospho-mevalonolactone.

Manganese is cofactor for enzymes

polymerizing mevalonate to cholesterol,

essentially a waste product. It has evolved

to make steroid hormones.

The posterior pituitary gland packs

selenium into oxytocin and vasopressin.

α-tocopherol, vitamin E transmits energy

through the membrane as solitons,

oxidising selenium to selenite; as

described under ‘Motility’, it exchanges

calcium for manganese.

B

Cholesterol synthesis from

mevalonate

Eight ways to regulate blood pressure

Phosphomevalonate

transports water

13

Blood pressure disorders can be corrected by:

1. Regulating the tDNA exchanging phospho-mevalonate for its lactone.

2. Restricting saturated fat consumption.

3. Attention to both high and low density lipids transporting cholesterol.

4. Controlling manganese, cofactor for catalysis of cholesterol synthesis.

5. Exercising and taking aspirin to regulate calcium levels.

6. Controlling sulphur metabolism and glutathione production by the liver.

7. Avoiding methyl mercury preventing pituitary uptake of dimethyl selenium.

8. Correcting selenium and vitamin E deficiency.

Selenium deficiency arises from precipitation during water purification18

, displacement

by fertilizers such as superphosphate containing sulphur19

, growing crops in soils with low

selenium concentrations, using high temperatures when preparing and preserving food20

, and

poor nutrition. Selenium deficiency causes hypertension during pregnancy, is the probable

cause of deaths from heart attacks and strokes. It causes cancers of the tissues specializing in

pumping water, i.e.: breast, bowel, cervix and prostate.

Breast cancer distribution correlates with surface geology21

, ‘hard’ water from

limestone and igneous deposits, e.g. those found in Snowdonia, contain most selenium.

Presumably it’s recycled from early life, sea floor manganese nodules may also reflect life’s

selenium-dependency. European royal families’ longevity may be attributed to rich, high

selenium diets.

Selenium supplementation in animal husbandry22

provides the best evidence for our

selenium dependency. It protects cattle from hypertension during pregnancy, sheep from

white muscle disease, and pigs from heart failure en route to market. Precedents for

augmenting diet are:

Limes for scurvy

Iodine for goitre

Cod liver oil to prevent rickets

Fluoridation of the water supply to prevent tooth decay

Supplementing selenium promises to prevent heart attacks and common cancers, it might

prevent or treat Ebola, characterised by water loss.

14

References

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