Minerals

Minerals

Minerals are elements that originate in the soil and cannot be created by living things. Minerals are essential nutrient present in diet. Animal tissues contain about 29 elements.

Classification

Based on the daily requirement minerals are classified into two types such as macrominerals (200 mg/day) and trace minerals (  200 mg/day)

I)            Essential elements – They are indispensable for the normal life.

a)    Macrominerals

Macrominerals are usually called “bulk minerals”. Some are structural, but many play a role as electrolytes. Its include Calcium, Chloride, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium and Sulphur.

b)    Traceminerals

Many elements are required in trace amounts, usually because they play a catalytic role in enzymes e.g., Cobalt, Copper, Chromium, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Selenium, and Zinc.

Non essential Elements – Elements functions are not known. Eg. Lead, Aluminum, Arsenic, Bromide, Boron, Silicon, Vanadium and Titanium

 

MACRO ELEMENTS

Name	Source	Function	Deficiency disease
Sodium Na	tomatoes, strawberries, squash, cabbage, cucumers, apples, apricots	Acid base balance, adrenal support, nerves and muscle functions, maintain blood pressure, body water content	Hypernatremia (increase Na) Excess intake Hyponatremia (decrease Na) Sweating and kidney disorder
Magnesium Mg	almonds, tomatoes, lemmon, apple, bananas, figs, hemp seeds, brazil nuts, pecan, walnut, carrot, celery, leek,	Enzyme function, bone and teeth formation, Muscle relaxation, metabolism of calcium, Vit.C and Na/K. Digestion, heart muscle, liver detoxification. Activate DNA/RNA polymerase.	Aching joints, blood sugar problems, restricted growth
Chloride Cl	NaCl in the common source, Olives, tomatoes, spinach, beetroot.	Works with sodium and potassium, regulates osmotic pressure, buffer system, HCl formation, Blood pH regulation.	Digestive disorders, weak water retention. Loss of weight
Calcium Ca	Milk and milk products (1200 mg/1L), fish and vegetables like radish, beetroot, drum stick leaves, soyabean and fruits sitaphal (800mg)	Muscle contraction & relaxation. vision, teeth & bone formation, blood coagulation, components of enzymes, nerve functions and membrane permeability Acts as secondary messenger Absorption Absorbed in intestine- depends Ca:P ratio Vitamin D- increase and phytic acid and oxalic acid decrease	No problem, unless vitamin D deficiency (Rickets and osteomalacia) Hypocalcimia- low parathyroid, increased extraction i)    Tetany–spasm of muscle of face  and limbs Hypercalcimia Depression, weakness of muscle, constipation and lack of appetite
Phosphorous P	All most all the food, P deficiency is rare, milk, cheese, almonds, beans, butter, nuts, meat and egg.	Energy stored components like ATP, Bones and teeth formation, take phosphorylation reactions, phosphoprotein formation and nucleic acid formation. Absorption Depends upon the calcium level	Hypophosphatemia: i) Malabsorption ii) starvation vomiting iv) liver disease Hyperphosphataemia i) Increased intake ii) Vit. D
Potassium K	Coffee, tea, dried beans Carrot juice, sunflower seed, tomatoes, oranges, lemons,  bananas, beetroot , pineapple etc.,	As sodium plus maintains heart, Osmotic regulation, buffer formation, regulate blood pH, muscle and nerve function, Co-factors of enzymes	Hyperkalemia(increased K) i)tissue damage and diabetes mellitus hypokalemia (decreased K)  loss of K in urine

 

 

 

MICRO ELEMENTS

Iron Fe	beans,watermelon,cherry, apples, grapes, pineapple,oranges, fish wheat, cheese and beef	Transport of O2, and CO2 Development of blood cells, immune boosting. Components of enzymes, metabolic oxidation Absorption Absorbed in the intestine Required transferrin in plasma. Vitamin C, Low pH and dement of Iron enhance the absorption	Anaemia: especially in the children and women.
Zinc  Zn	Sesame seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts and legumes, wheat germ, yeast, lentils, corn, oysters	Vit. A metabolism, anti-oxidant, immune, reproductive, Endocrine, enzymatic functions, insulin secretion, wound healing and synthesis of mononucleotide	White speckles on fingernails, infertility, hair & skin problems, immune system
Copper Cu	Cashew nuts, bananas, mushroom, peas, legumes, nuts, whole grains.	Activate certain enzymes, absorption of iron,  elastin formation, bone formation, an antioxidant, blood formation	Wilson disease: abnormal cu metabolism, Cu accumulate in the liver and brain, increase Cu in the urine, plasma Cu decrease
Iodine I	Green peppers, onions, pineapple, cot liver oil, watermelon etc.,	Thyroid metabolism for energy	Anaemia, low energy, short breath
Fluoride F	Drinking water, Almonds, carrots, beet, potatoes, spinach, celery, cauliflower, cabbage	Decreases dental cavities, bones,	Two edged sword – low lead to dental caries and high leads to dental and skeletal fluorosis.
Manganese Mn	Peas, Carrots, beetroot, green vegetables,  blackberries, potatoes and cheese	Enzyme action, reproduction, bone formation, carbohydrate metabolism, Hb formation, glycoprotein formation, An antioxidant, blood sugar, thyroid, works  with EFA metabolism	Teeth problems
Molybdenum Mo	Tomatoes, wheatgerm, beans, oats	Enzymes function, cupper utilization, clears uric acid, detoxifies body	Bone loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, unusual