Trace Minerals

Trace Minerals
 Essential minerals found in animals and plant
food.
 Differ from major minerals in 2 ways:
› Required for smaller amount (less than 100mg/day)
› Total amount of each trace minerals found in the body
is small (less than 5mg)
Trace Minerals
 Iron
 Copper
 Zinc
 Fluoride
 Selenium
 Iodine
 Chromium
 Manganese
Iron (fe)
 Functions of Iron
› Oxygen transport
› Enzymes
› Immune functions
› Brain functions
Iron (fe)
 RDA
› Adults 8mg/day (men & PM women)
› 18mg/day for women
› UL 45 mg/d
 Source
› Excellent source - beef, clams, oysters, tofu, liver.
› Other - poultry, fish, pork, lamb &legumes, whole
grain & enriched grain products, fortified cereals
Iron (fe)
 Iron Deficiency
 Stages of iron deficiency
Stage Biochemical sign Functional Implication

Depletion of iron storing ferritin None

Depletion of Transferrin receptors physical performance

functional iron Erythrocyte protoporphyrin

Iron-deficiency hemoglobin, hematocrit, Cognitive impairment, poor

anemia red cell size growth,
performance & exercise
tolerance
Iron (fe)
 Iron Toxicity
› Cause poisoning death in children.
› Symptom – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid HR,
dizziness confusion.
› Hemochromatosis – chronic iron overload
Zinc (Zn)
 Functions
› Enzymes
› Normal growth of children
› Sexual maturation of adolescents
› Immune function
› Vision
› Gene regulation
› Other – hormonal, growth & production, hemoglobin
activity, taste
Zinc (Zn)
 RDA
› Adults male – 11mg/day
› Adults female – 8mg/day
› Pregnancy – 11mg/day
› 6 month of lactation – 12mg/day
 Source
› Red meat, liver, seafood, oysters, clams, wheat bran
bread.
Zinc (Zn)
 Zinc Deficiency
› Primary culprits – increased needs, poor intake, poor
absorption, excessive loss.
 Zinc Toxicity
› Can cause acute GI distress, nausea, vomiting &
cramping
Selenium
 Functions
› Antioxidant
 working primarily as a part of enzyme glutathione
peroxidase (GP)
 GP prevent free radical formation
› Regulate thyroid hormone
 RDA
› 55mg/day
› UL 400
Selenium
 Sources
› Seafood, whole grains, vegetables (depending on soil
content)
 Deficiency
› Keshan disease (Cardiomyopathy)
 Toxicity
› Loss & brittleness of hair & nails, skin rash, fatigue,
irritability, NS disorder, garlic breath odor.
Iodine
 Functions
› Essential component of the thyroid hormone that help to
growth, development and metabolic rate
 RDA
› 150mg/day
› UL mg/d
 Sources
› Iodized salt, seafood, bread, dairy product, plants grown in
iodine rich soil and animals that fed those plants
Iodine
 Deficiency
› Goiter (Swelling of
thyroid gland)
 Toxicity
› Underactive thyroid
glands, goiter
Chromium (Cr)
 Functions
› Enhances the effect of insulin
› Lipids & carbs metabolism
› Immune function
› Growth
 RDA
› AI (adult 19-50 years) - 35mg (male), 25mg (female)
› AI (older adult) – 5 mg less
Chromium (Cr)
 Source
› Mushroom, dark chocolate, prunes, nuts, asparagus,
whole grain.
 Deficiency
› Decreased insulin-mediated glucose uptake by cells,
decreased insulin sensitivity, elevated blood glucose
& blood lipid abnormality.
Chromium (Cr)
 Toxicity
› To date no UL has been set
 Athletes Performance
› Cr purported to increase lean body mass & decrease
body fat.
› Supplement – Cr picolinate as healthy alternative to
anabolic steroids.
› However, there is no evidence that Cr supplement
provide a “quick fix” for athletes