Trace element analysis: a diagnostic tool.
Human body continuously assimilates a variety of elements from the environment and the concentration of these elements in blood is regulated by means of various homeostatic mechanisms. Some of the elements, though present in very small amounts perform highly specialized functions in initiating many biochemical reactions. These elements, known as essential trace elements, are closely related to human diseases as their deficiency or excess induces physiological changes. Many diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes etc are related to trace element imbalance. Therefore the measurement of trace elements in body fluids and tissues can be effectively employed for diagnostic tests.
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