Minerals & Trace Elements: High-Yield Clinicals
| Mineral | Deficiency/Toxicity & Clinical Clues |
|---|---|
| Zinc | Deficiency: Hypogonadism, delayed wound healing, dysgeusia (loss of taste), anosmia, acrodermatitis enteropathica. |
| Copper | Deficiency: Brittle hair, skin depigmentation, neurological issues (ataxia), and sideroblastic anemia. Wilson’s disease: Copper overload. |
| Selenium | Deficiency: Dilated cardiomyopathy (Keshan disease). Used in glutathione peroxidase activity. |
| Iodine | Deficiency: Goiter, hypothyroidism, cretinism (in neonates). |
High-Yield Core Realities:
- Zinc and Taste: If a clinical vignette describes a patient with recent weight loss, skin rashes, and complaints that food “doesn’t taste right,” look for zinc deficiency.
- Copper and Anemia: Copper is required for ferroxidase activity; deficiency prevents iron mobilization, leading to a microcytic anemia that is refractory to iron supplementation.
- Wilson Disease: A critical genetic disorder of copper metabolism leading to basal ganglia degeneration, liver cirrhosis, and Kayser-Fleischer rings in the cornea.