Just as vitamins are necessary for maintaining various body functions, similarly, minreals and trace elements are required in small amounts for growth and maintenance of health. Various minerals that are required in human body are:

- Calcium
- Carbon
- Chromium
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Fluorine
- Iodine
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Silicon
- Sodium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Zinc

Each trace element leads to poisoning if the dose exceeds and leads to deficiency if the intake is less than requirement. These trace elements are also known as micronutrients. The most important ones are discussed here.