An increasing amount of evidence shows the linkage between metal ion homeostasis and human disease. Deficiency or overload of metal ions play vital roles in many human diseases, including infectious disease. Nutritional supplementation and metal-based drugs have been suggested as potential intervention strategies to develop treatment for various diseases related to metal deficiency and overload. However, there are numerous forms of metal ion supplementation and metal-based drugs with different features. This chapter provides an overview of the recommended dietary allowance, tolerable upper intake levels, and bioavailability of metal elements and offers perspectives on intervention strategies for metal deficiency and overload. Data for analysis were obtained from research articles, reviews, and reports from the World Health Organization; the National Academic Press websites were another principal source of data.
© 2015 Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies.