MINERALS

Minerals

 Pertains to the elements in their simple inorganic form

 In nutrition, it referred to as mineral elements or, in the case of those present or
required in small amounts, they are known as trace elements or trace minerals

Mineral composition of the body

 21 mineral elements known to be essential in nutrition

 Analysis of mineral, shows presence of more than 25
 Minerals in body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine,
magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, manganese, copper, iodine, molybdenum,
cobalt, chromium, fluorine, vanadium, nickel, tin, and silicon
 Also traces of barium, bromine, strontium, gold, silver, aluminum, bismuth,
gallium, arsenic, and etc.
 Minerals elements exists in the body and in food in organic and inorganic
combinations

Major Minerals

 Calcium
 Magnesium
 Sodium
 Potassium
 Phosphorus
 Sulfur
 Chlorine

Group II: Trace Minerals

 Iron
 Copper
 Iodine
 Cobalt
 Zinc
 Molybdenum
Group III: Other Trace Minerals

 Fluorine
 Selenium
 Chromium
 Vanadium

MINERALS (Report Notes)

 Inorganic substances (not derived from living matter)

 Our bodies need them in trace to small amounts to help regulate bodily functions
such as muscle contractions, and regulating or help w/ the enzyme activity
 Nearly all minerals are best absorbed in their free form except Iron
 When mineral bound to molecules (mineral absorption can be impaired), also
mineral-mineral interaction can impair absorption
 For ex. Iron can impair zinc absorption

Bioavailability

 Degree at which a mineral can be absorbed

 High bioavailability (>40% of mineral can be absorbed) these minerals are
chloride, fluoride, iodine, potassium and sodium
 Low bioavailability (<10% of mineral can be absorbed) these are chromium, iron,
manganese and zinc
 Bioavailability of (30%-40% for all minerals) these are copper, molybdenum,
magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, calcium and selenium

Essential Minerals (16 in all)

Macrominerals
 Are calcium, magnesium, chloride, sodium, phosphorus and potassium
 Recommended daily intake (100 mg or more)
Microminerals
 Are chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium
and zinc
 Only iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc have recommended daily intakes
Bottom line
 Eat balanced diet
 Variety of different foods
 Cut down/ eliminate processed foods

Distribution
 Total body calcium is approximately 1.5 % to 2.2 %
 99% are found in bone and teeth
 1% is found in soft tissues and body fluids

Functions of Calcium
 Calcium combines w/ phosphorus to form calcium phosphate, the hard material
of the bones and teeth
 Calcium participates in muscular contractions and relaxations
 Calcium promotes blood coagulation
 It affects the transportation functions of cell membrane possibly acting as a
membrane stabilizer
 Calcium is requiring in nerve transmission and regulation of heart beat

Factors influencing Ca absorption

 Increased body needs
 Vitamin D
 Low gastric pH
 Normal protein diet
 High rations of lactose to calcium
 Rate of Calcium to phosphorus
 Oxalic acid and phytic acid
Group I: Major Minerals

CALCIUM
Distribution

 Total body weight, approximately 1.5 %- 2.2% of calcium

 99% is present mostly in the bones and teeth
  Remaining 1% is found in the soft tissues and body fluids and serves important
functions unrelated to bone structure

Functions

 Calcium combines phosphorus to form calcium phosphate, the hard material of

the bones and teeth
 It participates in muscular contraction and relaxation
 It promotes blood coagulation
 It affects transport function of cell membranes, possibly acting as a membrane
stabilizer
 Calcium is required in nerve transmission and regulation of heart beat

Utilization

 Calcium absorption is better during the periods of increased body needs such as
I growth pregnancy, and lactation; extent is about 60%; also when intake is low,
the body compensates by absorbing ahigh percentage; there decreased
absorption old age
 Vitamin D enhances the optimum absorptions of calcium by increasing
permeability of the intestinal membrane to calcium and by activating the active
transport system
 Low gastric pH (acidic) favors the absorption of calcium whereas hypochlorhydia
(alkaline medium) causes the precipitation of the mineral
 Normal protein diet does not have any effect on calcium absorption but high
intakes of meat as in diet of the Westerners increase the excretion of calcium in
the urine even if lysine, arginine, and serine increase the absorption by 50%
 A high ratio of lactose to calcium is necessary for the formation of soluble
complex w/c can easily be transported to and possibly across the intestinal wall
 The ratio of calcium to phosphorus is important in the absorption of both minerals
in infants and a recommended level is a Ca:P ratio of 1:5:1; adults, a ratio of 1:1
is necessary for better absorption
 Oxalic and phyctic acids interfere w/ the absorption of calcium; oxalic acid is
present in several fruits and vegetables such as alagaw, alugbati, kamias, kulitis,
kutsarita, alasiman, unripe tamarind leaves, and spinach depresses calcium
absorption by forming by forming insoluble salts; phyctic acid in cereals as in
wheat bread and oatmeal acts in the same manner as oxalic acid through in most
cereals, phytase, an enzyme capable of splitting phyctic acid to make it available
for absorption, is present
 Fats in excess may form insoluble soaps w/ calcium as evidenced by the
presence of fatty acids, calcium, and also fat-soluble vitamin Din the feces;
 especially observed in conditions where there is poor fat digestion as in sprue
and steatorrhea
 Anything that may cause an increase in GI mortility like laxatives and foods
highin bulk may reduce the rate of passage of food in the intestinal tract causing
the decrease in the absorption of calcium
 Lack of exercise may cause a loss of bone calcium and reduced ability to replace
it
 Mental stress or emotional instability has been found to decrease calcium
absorption
 Caffeine increases urinary calcium excretion; appropriximately 1 cp of coffee can
increase calcium excretion

Food sources

 Kuhol
 Seaweed gamet
 Malunggay leaves
 Saluyot
 Carabao’s milk’
 Dilis
 Hipon, tagunton
 Susong pilipit
 Talangka
 Silinyasi
 Cheese
 Bagoong
 Dried fish
 Alakaak
 Biya
 Galunggong
 Sardines
 Dried ayungin
 Dried dilis
 Dried hibi
 Milk, evaporated

Effects of deficiency
  Retarded growth
 Rickets osteomalacia (adult rickets) in which a reduction in the mineral content of
the bone is observed
 Tetany caused by a reduction in circulating ionized calcium resulting in increased
excitability of the nerve and uncontrolled reactions of muscle tissue

Effects of excess

 Hypercalcemia

RECOMMENDED CALCIUM INTAKES FOR SPECIFIC POPULATION GROUPS

POULATION GROUP REFERENCE WEIGHT RNI mg/day
(KG)
Infants, mo
Birth -<6 6 65
6-<12 9 80
Children, y
1-3 13 160
4-6 19 200
7-9 24 300
Males, y
10-12 34 400
13-15 50 400
16-18 58 400
19 and over 59 400
Females, y
10-12 35 400
13-15 49 400
16-18 50 400
19 and over 51 400
Pregnant women 600
Lactating women 500