24 Questions
What percentage of body weight do minerals represent?
4-5%
Hyperkalaemia is a condition where potassium levels in the plasma are below 3.5 mmol/L.
False
What are the daily potassium requirements for healthy individuals?
3.5-4.7 g K+/day
Potassium is widely available in many foods, especially _______________________ and vegetables.
fruits
What is the main cause of hypokalaemia?
Use of K-sparing diuretics
Match the following minerals with their recommended daily intake:
Calcium = 1-1.5 g/day Phosphorus = No specific daily intake mentioned in the content Potassium = 3.5-4.7 g/day
Magnesium is an essential micronutrient.
True
The body can use the large reservoir of potassium stored in cells to help maintaining a constant level of potassium in the _______________________.
blood
What is the recommended daily intake of phosphorus for adults?
700 mg/day
Phosphorus is not involved in the phosphate buffer system.
False
What is the function of calcium in postmenopausal women?
to maintain bone health
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contains ______________________ bonds.
phosphate
What is the role of vitamin D in calcium and phosphorus metabolism?
it regulates the metabolism of both calcium and phosphorus
Match the following micronutrients with their functions:
Calcium = helps bone structure to develop and grow during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence Phosphorus = involved in the phosphate buffer system Vitamin D = regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus Parathyroid Hormone = involved in nerve transmission and the regulation of heart muscle function
The amount of Ca2+ in bones is not in equilibrium with Ca2+ in the blood.
False
What is the relationship between phosphorus and calcium?
they are interrelated
What is a recommended dietary allowance for calcium in adults aged 19 to 50?
1000 mg
Hypokalemia is a condition characterized by high potassium levels in the blood.
False
What is the main function of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in calcium metabolism?
Regulation of calcium levels
Calcium and phosphorus together form _______________, the main structural component in bones and tooth enamel.
hydroxyapatite
What is a common cause of hypokalemia?
All of the above
Magnesium is an essential micronutrient for bone health.
True
Match the following hormones with their role in calcium metabolism:
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) = Regulation of calcium levels Calcitonin = Reduction of calcium levels Vitamin D = Regulation of calcium absorption
What is the recommended dietary allowance for phosphorus in adults?
300-1200 mg/day
Study Notes
Minerals
- Minerals are inorganic elements essential for human, animal, and plant nutrition, making up approximately 4-5% of body weight.
- 50% of mineral weight is calcium, 25% is phosphorus, and the remaining 25% accounts for other minerals like magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur.
Potassium
- Potassium is widely available in fruits, vegetables, and protein-dense foods like meat, fish, and eggs.
- The body absorbs potassium through diffusion, especially in the colon, and eliminates it mostly in urine if kidneys are functioning properly.
- Daily potassium requirements:
- Healthy individuals: 3.5-4.7 g/day
- Renal patients: less than 3.5-4.7 g/day
- Chronical renal failure with no hyperkalaemia: 1-1.5 g/day
- Hemodialysis: 2.3-2.7 g/day
- Peritoneal dialysis: 3 g/day
Hyperkalaemia
- Hyperkalaemia occurs when plasma potassium levels exceed 5.0 mmol/L.
- Causes:
- Use of "K-sparing diuretics"
- Drugs containing potassium (e.g., KCl instead of NaCl)
- Acidosis (H+ exchange by intracellular K+)
- Excessive intake of fruits and vegetables
- Renal failure requiring dialysis
- Symptoms:
- Muscle weakness or abdominal cramps
- Paraesthesia
- Irritability
- Diarrhoea
- Mental confusion
- Hypotension
- Arrhythmia
Hypokalaemia
- Hypokalaemia occurs when plasma potassium levels drop below 3.5 mmol/L.
- Causes:
- Vomiting or profuse diarrhoea
- Use of diuretics
- Corticosteroids or laxatives
- Cushing's disease
- Symptoms:
- Leg cramps
- Tiredness
- Hypotonicity
- Weakness
- Arrhythmias
- Constipation
- Cardiac arrest
- Recommended diets:
- Eat foods rich in potassium
- Use KCl instead of NaCl
- Eat fresh food rather than boiled food
- Drink vegetable cooking water
Calcium and Phosphorus
- Calcium and phosphorus are essential elements, representing 99% and 85% of bone tissue, respectively.
- Both elements form hydroxyapatite, the main structural component in bones and tooth enamel.
- Daily requirements:
- Calcium: 400-1500 mg/day (0.4-1.5 g/day)
- Phosphorus: 300-1200 mg/day (0.3-1.2 g/day)
- Hormones regulating calcium and phosphorus levels:
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- Calcitonin
- Vitamin D
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)
- Calcium RDAs:
- Children aged 9-18: 1300 mg
- Adults aged 19-50: 1000 mg
- Women over 51 and adults over 70: 1200 mg
- Phosphorus RDAs:
- Lower than calcium RDAs for all groups
- Adults: 700 mg/day
Calcium Functions
- Helps bone structure develop and grow during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence
- Helps postmenopausal women maintain bone health
- Involved in ions transition across cell organelle membranes
- Involved in nerve transmission and heart muscle function regulation
- Acts as a cofactor for several enzymatic reactions
Phosphorus Functions
- Contained in DNA and RNA
- Present in ATP, the major cellular form of energy
- Component of phospholipids in membrane cells
- Involved in the phosphate buffer system
Learn about the essential minerals in the human body, their composition, and sources of potassium in food. Discover the role of potassium in nutrition and its absorption process.
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