The elemental composition of the human body
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The human body is a miraculous, well-oiled and extremely complex machine. It takes many functioning parts to come together for a person to live a healthy life – and every biological detail in our bodies, from the mundane to the most magical, is powered by just 21 chemical elements.
Of the 118 elements on Earth, only 21 of them are found in the human body. Together they form a mixture of different molecules that combine to form our DNA, cells, tissues and organs.
Based on data presented by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), in the above infographic, we have broken down the human body into its elemental composition and the percentages in which they exist.
These 21 elements can be categorized into three main blocks depending on the amount found in the human body, the basic building block (4 elements), basic minerals (8 elements) and trace elements (9 elements).
The Elemental Four: Ingredients for Life
Four elements namely oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen are considered as the most important elements in our body.
Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body, accounting for approximately 61% of the human mass. Considering that about 60-70% of the body is water, it’s no surprise that oxygen and hydrogen are two of the most abundant chemical elements in the body. Along with carbon and nitrogen, these elements combine for 96% of the body’s mass.
Here’s a look at the composition of the four elements of life:
Element Body mass weight (kg) Body mass percentage (%) Oxygen43 kg61.4% Carbon16 kg22.9% Hydrogen7.0 kg10.0% Nitrogen1.8 kg2.6%
The values are for an average human body weighing 70 kg.
Let’s look at how each of these four chemical elements contributes to the thriving functionality of our body:
Oxygen
Oxygen plays a critical role in the body’s metabolism, respiration, and cellular oxygenation. Oxygen is also found in every significant organic molecule in the body, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids. It is an essential component of everything from our cells and blood to our brain and spinal fluid.
carbon
Carbon is the most important structural element and the reason we are known as carbon-based life forms. It is the basic building block necessary for the formation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Breaking down the carbon bonds in carbohydrates and proteins is our main source of energy.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen, the most abundant chemical element in the universe, is present in all body fluids, allowing toxins and waste to be transported and eliminated. With the help of hydrogen, the joints in our body remain lubricated and able to perform their functions. Hydrogen is also believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to improve muscle function.
Nitrogen
A major component of amino acids used to build peptides and proteins is nitrogen. It is also an integral part of the nucleic acids DNA and RNA, the chemical backbone of our genetic information and genealogy.
Major and additional minerals
Essential minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. Your body uses minerals for several processes, including keeping your bones, muscles, heart, and brain functioning properly. Minerals also control the production of beneficial enzymes and hormones.
Minerals such as calcium are an important component of our bones and are necessary for bone growth and development, along with muscle contractions. Phosphorus contributes to the strength of bones and teeth and is vital for energy metabolism.
Here’s a look at the elemental composition of the major minerals:
Element Body mass weight (g) Body mass percentage (%) Calcium1000 g1.43% Phosphorus780 g 1.11% Potassium140 g0.20% Sulfur140 g0.20% Chlorine100 g0.14% Sodium95 g0.14% Magnesium19 g0.03 % Iron4. 2g0.01%
The values are for an average human body weighing 70 kg.
Other macrominerals such as magnesium, potassium, iron and sodium are essential for communication between cells, such as electrical transmissions that generate nerve impulses or heart rhythms, and are needed to maintain thyroid and bone health.
Excessive deficiency of any of these minerals can cause various disorders in your body. Most people get these minerals as part of their daily diet, including vegetables, meat, legumes and fruits. In case of deficiency, however, these minerals are also prescribed as supplements.
Biological composition of trace elements
Trace elements or trace metals are small amounts of minerals found in living tissues. Some are known to be essential for nutrition, while others may be considered non-essential. They are usually in minimal amounts in our body and make up only 1% of our mass.
The most important among them are trace elements such as zinc, copper, manganese and fluorine. Zinc acts as a first response against infections and thus improves resistance to infections while balancing the immune response.
Here is the distribution of trace elements in our body:
Element Weight of body mass (mg) Percentage of body mass (%) Fluorine2600 mg0.00371% Zinc2300 mg0.00328% Copper72 mg0.00010% Iodine13 mg0.00002% Manganese12 mg0.00002% Molybdenum9.5 mg0.00001% Selenium8 mg0. 00001 % Chromium 6.6 mg0.00001 % Cobalt 1.5 mg0.000002 %
The values are for an average human body weighing 70 kg.
Although only found in trace amounts, copper is instrumental in making red blood cells and keeping nerve cells healthy. It also helps form collagen, an important part of bone and connective tissue.
Even with constant research and studies being done to fully understand the uses and benefits of these trace elements, scientists and researchers are constantly making new discoveries.
For example, recent research shows that some of these trace elements can be used to treat and combat chronic and debilitating diseases ranging from ischemia to cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
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