Rapid progress has taken place in the understanding of the role of trace elements in human health and disease during the past decade. Thirty-five years ago the role of zinc in human health was unknown. Now it appears that a nutritional deficiency of zinc may be one of the major problems throughout the developing world, and it may be as common as iron deficiency. Growth retardation, susceptibility to infections, and impaired cognitive functions, so commonly observed in many developing countries, may indeed be related to a deficiency of zinc. Therapeutic uses of zinc in children with acute and persistent diarrhea and in patients with Wilson's disease are remarkable examples of the use of an essential nontoxic element for the treatment of serious and often fatal disorders such as acute infantile diarrhea and Wilson's disease.
In 1986 the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH) was established. At its first meeting, it was decided to publish periodically a monograph updating the recent advances in the field of trace elements. Two monographs have been published thus far. Inasmuch, the society is also publishing the Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine, it was decided to publish ''Trace Elements in Human Health and Disease: An Update,'' as a special symposium in this journal. Several experts in different areas were invited to contribute reviews on selected topics, in order to update this field.
The topics for this symposium include zinc transcription factors, zinc finger proteins, role of zinc in bone formation and resorption, therapeutic role of zinc in macular degeneration, genetics of Menke's disease, copper transport, role of trace elements in free radicals, metallothionein as antioxidants and status of trace elements nutrition in the world. Chapters on selenium, chromium, ultra trace elements, cadmium, lead, and mercury have also been included.
This volume should be very useful to researchers, educators, nutrition scientists, clinicians, and biochemists interested in the field of trace elements.