Study Highlights How Trace Elements Support Tissue Health and Protective Barrier Function

A recent review article published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology examines the important role that trace elements play in maintaining healthy tissues and supporting essential biological processes. Trace elements including zinc, copper, iron, selenium, manganese, and silicon are involved in a wide range of cellular activities that help maintain tissue structure, protect cells from oxidative stress, and regulate immune responses.

Although present only in very small amounts in the body, these micronutrients are essential for the proper functioning of many enzymes and metabolic pathways. The researchers explain that trace elements contribute to antioxidant defense systems, cellular repair mechanisms, and inflammatory regulation, all of which are necessary for maintaining stable and healthy tissue environments.

This scientific review emphasizes that epithelial tissues depend on balanced levels of trace elements to maintain structural integrity and biological function. In the skin, deficiencies or imbalances in certain micronutrients have been associated with conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia, and other inflammatory disorders. These observations highlight the importance of trace elements in maintaining tissue health and regulating biological responses to environmental stress.

Trace elements also play an important role in cellular regeneration and barrier stability, helping tissues maintain protective surfaces that resist microbial invasion and environmental damage. By supporting enzymatic activity and antioxidant defenses, these micronutrients contribute to maintaining balanced biological environments that allow tissues to function properly and recover from injury.

Although the review focuses primarily on the skin, many of the biological processes described are also relevant to oral tissues, which share similar epithelial structures and defense mechanisms. Oral tissues rely on stable barrier function, balanced microbial environments, and effective cellular repair processes to maintain healthy gums, mucosa, and other oral structures.

Recognizing the value of mineral based ingredients in supporting tissue environments, H2Ocean has incorporated mineral rich Red Sea salt into its oral care formulations since 2001. Red Sea salt naturally contains a spectrum of trace elements and minerals that complement other biologically compatible ingredients such as lysozyme and xylitol, supporting oral hygiene and helping maintain a balanced oral microbiome environment. Sea salt based Healing Rinse Mouthwash has been recognized by Yahoo Health as the best natural mouthwash available in the marketplace. 

Study Reference:G. Bjørklund, M. Shanaida, T. Hangan, L. Kassym, A. Kussainova, Y. Semenova, E.Gheorghe, T. Gontova, V. Voloshyn, R. Lysiuk, O. Voloshyn, V. Shanaida, M. Peana. The role of trace elements for the function and health of the skin. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 89 (2025), Article 127674.