Minerals and Their Importance in Diet

Minerals

• Minerals are inorganic elements essential in the diet.
• They are required in small amounts (milligrams or micrograms).
• The presentation outlines the bio-importance, classification, and deficiencies/toxicities of various minerals.

Learning Outcomes

• Defines a mineral.
• Explains the biomedical importance of minerals.
• Categorizes different mineral classes (macro and micro).
• Details the primary functions of minerals in metabolic processes.
• Discusses diseases associated with mineral deficiencies.
• Covers the toxicity of excessive mineral intake.

Definition of Mineral

• Minerals are inorganic elements needed for an adequate diet.

Biological Importance

• Minerals establish ion gradients across cell membranes (e.g., Cl⁻, K+, Na⁺).
• They help maintain water balance in the body (e.g., Cl⁻, K+, Na⁺).
• Minerals balance positive and negative charges on proteins and other molecules (e.g., Cl⁻, K+, Na⁺).
• Some minerals are structural components of bones and teeth (e.g., calcium and phosphorus).
• Calcium plays a role in hormone function and blood clotting.
• Phosphorus is crucial for ATP formation.
• Magnesium activates many enzymes.
• Iron is a component of hemoglobin.

Classification of Minerals

• Macro-minerals: Required in amounts exceeding 100 mg/day. Examples include calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chlorine (Cl)

• Micro-minerals: Needed in amounts of 100 mg/day or less. Examples include iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), fluoride (F), selenium (Se), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and cobalt (Co).

Macro-minerals Details

• Calcium (Ca):

  • Sources: Dairy products, beans, vegetables
  • Function: Structural component of bones and teeth, hormone action, blood clotting.
  • Deficiency: Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults.
  • Toxicity: Stones in kidneys.

• Phosphorus (P):

  • Sources: Widely distributed in food
  • Function: Constituent of bones and teeth, ATP formation, enzyme activity, metabolic intermediates, phospholipids
  • Deficiency: Rare
  • Toxicity: Decrease in calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc absorption

• Magnesium (Mg):

  • Sources: Milk, meat, legumes, cocoa, eggs
  • Function: Constituent of bones and teeth, enzyme co-factor
  • Deficiency: Irregular heart beat, severe kidney damage

• Sodium (Na):

  • Sources: Table salt
  • Function: Establish ion gradients across membranes, maintain water balance, neutralize negative charges on proteins
  • Deficiency: Hypotension
  • Toxicity: Hypertension

• Potassium (K):

  • Sources: Vegetables, fruits
  • Function: Establish ion gradients across membranes, maintain water balance, neutralize negative charges on proteins
  • Deficiency: Hypokalemia
  • Toxicity: Hyperkalemia

• Chlorine (Cl):

  • Sources: Table salt
  • Function: Digestion (HCl), establish ion gradients across membranes, maintain water balance, neutralize positive charges on proteins
  • Deficiency: Muscle cramps
  • Toxicity: Fluid retention

Micro-minerals Details

• Iron (Fe):

  • Sources: Red meats, liver, eggs
  • Function: Component of hemoglobin, part of many enzymes, energy release
  • Deficiency: Anemia
  • Toxicity: Hemochromatosis

• Zinc (Zn):

  • Sources: Meat, fish, dairy products, vegetables
  • Function: Cofactor for many enzymes, growth, skin repair, taste and smell
  • Deficiency: Growth failure in children, loss of taste and smell
  • Toxicity: Vomiting

• Iodine (I):

  • Sources: Sea food, iodized salt
  • Function: Formation of thyroid hormones T4 and T3
  • Deficiency: Hypothyroidism, goiter
  • Toxicity: Hyperthyroidism

• Fluoride (F):

  • Sources: Drinking water, sea food
  • Function: Increases bone and teeth hardness.
  • Deficiency: Tooth decay
  • Toxicity: Discoloration of teeth

• Selenium (Se):

  • Sources: Cereals, fish, eggs
  • Function: Antioxidant, immune system function
  • Deficiency: Liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease
  • Toxicity: Diabetes Mellitus, liver failure

• Copper (Cu):

  • Sources: Liver
  • Function: Cofactor of many enzymes, iron absorption, myelin formation
  • Deficiency: Anemia, Menkes syndrome
  • Toxicity: Wilson's disease, depression

• Chromium (Cr):

  • Sources: Meat, liver, sea food, cheese
  • Function: Potentiating insulin secretion
  • Deficiency: Diabetes Mellitus

• Manganese (Mn):

  • Sources: Widely distributed in plant foods
  • Function: Enzyme co-factor, glycoprotein and proteoglycan synthesis
  • Deficiency: Hypertension, irreversible nerve damage

• Cobalt (Co):

  • Sources: Meats, dairy products, vegetables
  • Function: Constituent of vitamin B12
  • Deficiency: Megaloblastic anemia, hyperthyroidism, increased cancer cell growth

Other Micro-minerals

• Some micro-minerals (e.g., strontium, bromine, gold, silver) have yet to have all of their functions fully identified in humans

This quiz explores the essential role of minerals in the diet, their classification, and the health implications of deficiencies and toxicities. Participants will learn about the biomedical significance of macro and micro minerals and their impact on metabolic processes.