About 24 elements are used by the body in its functions and processes.
| Major Elements in the Human Body |
| Element |
Percentage |
Function |
| Oxygen |
65.0 |
Part of all major nutrients of tissues; vital to energy |
| production |
|
|
| Carbon |
18.5 |
Essential life element of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; building blocks of cells |
| Hydrogen |
9.5 |
Part of major nutrients; building blocks of cells |
| Nitrogen |
3.3 |
Essential part of proteins, DNA, RNA; essential to most body functions |
| Calcium |
1.5 |
Forms nonliving bone parts; a messenger between cells |
| Phosphorous |
1.0 |
Important to bone building; essential to cell energy |
Potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium each occur at 0.35 percent or less. There are also traces of iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, iodine, zinc, fluorine, boron, aluminum, molybdenum, silicon, chromium, and selenium.
