Abstract: Complex salts of cobalt useful for nutritional supplementation to provide cobalt in a form which effectively increases the bioavailability of cobalt, assuring adequate dietary requirement for growth and production of vitamin B.sub.12 by microorganisms present in the gut.

Abstract: Novel complex salts wherein the cation of the salt is a complex between iron and methionine. These salts are useful for nutritional supplementation to provide iron and methionine, both in a form which effectively increases the bioavailability of these compounds to animals.

Abstract: Novel pharmaceutical compositions containing 1:1 zinc methionine complex salts having the formula:[CH.sub.3 SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(NH.sub.2)COO.sup.. Zn.sup.+.sup.+].sub.w Xwherein X is an anion and w is an integer equal to the anionic charge of X. These compounds when administered in dosage form have been found to have therapeutic effect in the treatment of certain epidermal disorders such as acne.

Abstract: 1:1 Zinc methionine complex salts having the formula[CH.sub.3 SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(NH.sub.2)COO.Zn.sup.+.sup.+].sub.w Xwherein X is an anion and w is an integer equal to the anionic charge of X. These are useful nutritional supplements, both for animals and humans, in that they provide a readily-available source of the zinc ions necessary for dietary balance and provide methionine, an essential amino acid, in a form which provides for body conversion of more of the methionine to protein than does the simple feeding of the compound methionine.

Abstract: Novel salts are prepared wherein the cation of the salt comprises a 1:1 ratio complex of a complex ion formed between manganese and an alpha amino acid, and any suitable anion, either inorganic or organic but preferably a monovalent inorganic anion. The novel salts have the formula: ##EQU1## wherein X is an anion, W is an integer equal to the anionic charge of X, and R is an alpha position moiety of an essential amino acid. The preferred amino acids are methionine and glycine. These compounds are useful nutritional supplements, both for animals and humans in that they provide a readily available source of manganese ions necessary for dietary balance. In addition, these complexed salts also provide a readily available source for certain amino acids needed in a balanced diet, such as methionine.

Abstract: Novel salts are prepared wherein the cation of the salt comprises a 1:1 ratio of a complex ion formed between zinc and methionine and any suitable anion, either inorganic or organic. The novel salts have the generic formula:[CH.sub.3 SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH(NH.sub.2)COO.Zn.sup.+.sup.+].sub.w Xwherein X is an anion and w is an integer equal to the anionic charge of X. These novel compounds are useful nutritional supplements, both for animals and humans, in that they provide a readily-available source of the zinc ions necessary for dietary balance. In addition, certain of the compounds falling within the formula disclosed herein have been found to have therapeutic utility in the treatment of acne and colitis.