Functional Diagnosis is one of the most important cornerstones of Nutritional Medicine. Likewise, clinical nutrition is one of the most important ibundations of holistic medical treatment. Tracking down possible shortcomings and imbal- ances is an important first step in evaluating the nutritional status of any patient, This should be the first step in the process of attempting to achieve a complete rehabilitation and optifnixation of health.

Although minerals and trace elements were the last substances to be " discovered" as important contributors to a smoothly- operating biological system, the methods suggested for measuring and monitoring their presence or absence is still a subject of controversy.