A brief overview

Grahame A. Leach, Ph.D.

Monarch Nutraceuticals

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 Brief overview of the chemistry
 Natural form of minerals
 Mineral absorption

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 Macro minerals
Na, K, Mg, Ca

 Micro minerals
B, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Zn

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 Inorganic form
- metal salts
 Organic form
- metal complexes
- metal chelates

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 Metal salts (inorganic)
 Metal complexes
 Bi-dentate chelates
 Poly-dentate chelates

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 Metal salts (inorganic)
 Metal complexes
 Bi-dentate chelates
 Poly-dentate chelates

 Soluble vs insoluble
 Water soluble vs fat soluble

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For effective absorption, minerals need
to be protected from antagonists in the
diet and the GI tract that would render
them unavailable.

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 Iron in heme
 Cobalt in Vitamin B12
 Copper in blue copper proteins
 Zinc in many enzymes
 Chromium in glucose tolerance factor

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 Iron in heme
 Cobalt in Vitamin B12
 Copper in blue copper proteins
 Zinc in many enzymes
 Chromium in glucose tolerance factor

What do all these have in common?

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 Food degradation by enzymes
(digestion) in the stomach.

 Absorption in the small intestine

(duodenum, jejunum).

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 Lack of complex formation with food
ingredients (e.g. phytates from cereals).
 Maintenance of chemical stability at the
acid pH of the stomach/small intestine.
 Presence of a specific transporter.
 Small size for transportation with bulk
water flow.

contd…

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 Lipid solubility: non-ionized at local pH.
 High circulation to the site of absorption,
to maintain concentration gradient.
 Appropriate stomach-emptying rate.
 Low small intestinal motility.

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 Chelate therapy – EDTA
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
EDTA is a hexadentate ligand

 MRI contrast agents – GdDTPA

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid
DTPA is an octadentate ligand

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 Chelates vs metal salts
 Biological minerals vs rock
 Ideal degree of chelation – not
too weak but not too strong

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 Monarch has extensive expertise in
the science and manufacturing of
mineral chelates.
 Monarch uses this knowledge to
produce quality chelates designed for
maximum absorption and efficacy.

Thank you

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