I.
Macro-mineral or major minerals
Macrominerals Sources Deficiency Toxicity
Calcium Mustasa, 1. Stunted growth and
malunggay, retarded
pechay, tugabang, 2. Rickets -
gabi leaves, milk characterized by
and milk products, enlarged joints,
sardines, oyster, bowed legs,
crab , tulya knocked-knees,
beaded ribs and
deformities of skull.
3. Osteomalacia -
reduction in the
mineral content of
the bone (due to
failure to mineralize
the bone matrix), but
not in the total
amount of bone;
sometimes referred
to as adult rickets
where there is
thinning and loss of
strength.
4. Osteoporosis - the
absolute amount of
bone in the skeleton
has been diminished
but the remaining
bone mass is of
normal composition.
5. Tetany - reduction in
circulating ionized
Ca resulting in
increased
excitability/irritability
of nerve centers
resulting in
Functions
1. Hypercalcemia - Needed for bones and teeth
elevated blood foundation
calcium level which
may lead to excessive
calcification not only
in the bone but also in
soft tissues such as
kidneys. Usually an
effect of
hyperparathyroidism
rather than high
intake.
2. Renal Calculi -
majority of kidney
stones are composed
of calcium. It is
commonly believed
that a high calcium
intake leads to kidney
stone formation.
3. Depressing effect on
utilization of fat,
phosphorus, iodine,
iron, magnesium and
zinc.
4. Kidney Stones
 uncontrolled
contractions of
muscle tissue or
muscle spasm such
as leg cramps.

Phosphorus Mustasa, 1. Stunted growth and Hyperphosphatemia - due to a. Mineralization of

malunggay, retarded renal insufficiency or bones and teeth
pechay, tugabang, 2. Rickets hypoparathyroidism which b. Growth and
gabi leaves, milk, 3. Osteomalacia causes excess accumulation maintenance
chicken, egg, fish, 4. Osteoporosis of serum phosphate. As a c. Maintains water and
meat, legumes, 5. tetany result, the calcium side of the acid-base balance
nuts and whole phosphorus to calcium ratio d. Absorption of fats and
grain cereals, is low, causing tetany. sugars as well as other
nutrients in the
intestines that require
phosphorylation
e. An essential part of
ATP and creatine
phosphate which
serve to store the
energy liberated by
oxidation.
f. Many of the B-vitamins
function as coenzymes
only when in
combination with
phosphate as in
thiamine
pyrophosphate and
nucleic acids like RNA
and DNA

Potassium Fruits, fruit juices, 1. Hypokalemia - a. Hyperkalemia - a. Regulates water and

veg, legumes, caused by a
nuts, cereals and prolonged wasting
meats. disease with tissue
destruction and
malnutrition or
prolonged
gastrointestinal loss
of potassium as in
results in acid-base balance
characteristics b. Maintains muscle
weakening of heart contractility and nerve
action, mental irritability
confusion, poor c. Regulates normal
respiration (caused by heart rhythm
weakening of d. Acts as a catalyst in
respiratory muscle) many biological
 diarrhea, vomiting or and numbness of reactions, especially
gastric suction. extremities. those involving the
2. Muscle irritability, release of energy,
weakness and glycogen and protein
paralysis synthesis.
3. The heart may i. In
develop a gallop carbohydrates
rhythm and finally metabolism,
cardiac arrest. when blood
4. Poor intestinal walls glucose is
5. Tonus converted to
6. Nausea and lack of glycogen for
appetite storage in the
liver muscle, K
is stored with
glycogen.
ii. In protein
synthesis, K is
required for the
storage of
nitrogen as
muscle protein.
iii. When muscle
tissue is broken
down, K is lost
together with
the nitrogen in
muscle protein.
About ⅓ of the
cells’ supply of
K is bound with
the cell protein.

Sodium Meat, fish, poultry, a. Hyponatremia a. Hypernatremia a. Regulates osmotic

milk and eggs, (dehydration) (edema) pressure and water
table salt, msg, b. Dietary deficiency is b. High intake is not yet balance. Ionized Na is
baking powder, uncommon since proven to be harmful the major cation of the
baking soda, sodium is widely to a healthy person fluid outside the cell.
processed foods distributed in foods. since the body can b. Regulates acid-base
c. Muscle cramps and excrete excess balance. It is a major
disturbed acid-base sodium readily in component of the base
 balance resulting urine. partner of the body’s
from diarrhea, c. In experimental main buffer system:
vomiting and animal studies, a the carbonic acid-
profuse sweating. prolonged high salt sodium bicarbonate
diet has been buffer system
correlated with c. Promotes cell
hypertension. permeability. Na helps
to control and operate
what has been called
a sodium pump in the
cell wall. It also helps
to make the cell more
permeable to other
materials such as
nutrients.
d. Needed in normal
muscle action. Na ions
play a large part in
transmitting
electrochemical
impulses along nerve
muscle membranes
thus maintaining
normal muscle
irritability and
excitability.

Magnesium Nuts, cocoa, Hypomagnesemic Tetany - Hypermagnesemia - leads to a. Stabilizes the structure
soybeans, whole manifested by gross hypotension, ECG changes of ATP in ATP-
grain cereals muscular tremors, and evidence of sedation. dependent enzyme
clams, dark green choreiform movements and May cause decreased tendon reactions.
leafy veg, legumes in extreme circumstances reflexes. b. CHO metabolism
by convulsion. c. Protein metabolism
d. Conduction of nerve
impulses, maintenance
of muscle contractility
and acid-base balance
e. Builds and maintains
bone and teeth
together with Ca and
P.
 f. Key core of the
chlorophyll molecule
which is important in
photosynthetic
reactions.
g. Influences secretion of
thyroxine, helps
maintain normal BMR
and adaptation to cold.
h. Acts as a physiologic
calcium channel
blocker and it has
been called “nature’s
blocker”

Sulfur Protein foods Cystinuria Cystine kidney stones a. Structural function -

- A hereditary defeat - Repeated production sulfur occurs primarily
in tubular of cysteine in the as a constituent of the
reabsorption of kidney ff:
amino acids i. Amino acids
cysteine may lead to methionine,
the excessive cysteine (in
excretion in the reduced form
urine. -SH) and
cystine (in
oxidized form
-S -S) as the
double
molecule.
ii. Keratin, the
protein of hair,
nails, and skin
iii. Insulin, the
hormone which
regulates
carbohydrate
metabolism
iv. Glutathione, a
tripeptide
composed of
glutamic acid,
 cysteine and
glycine,
believed to
help maintain
the sulfhydryl-
containing
enzymes in the
reduced state
that is essential
for their
activity.
v. Heparin, an
anticoagulant
found in liver
vi. Chondroitin
sulfate in bone
and cartilage.
vii. Thiamine,
pantothenic
acid, biotin and
lipoic acid
b. Maintains protein
structure
c. Activates enzymes
d. Needed in energy
metabolism
e. detoxification

chlorine Salt, meats, Hypochloremic alkalosis Hyperchloremia a. Helps maintain water

seaweeds, milk, balance and regulate
eggs osmotic pressure.
b. Maintains acid-base
balance
c. As part of HCI, it
provides the
necessary acid
medium for digestion
in the stomach and for
the activation of
enzymes
II. Micro-minerals (trace elements)
Mineral Sources Deficiency Toxicity
Iron Malunggay, a. Nutritional anemia - 1. Hemochromatosis -
pechay, tugabang, due to an
liver and other inadequate supply of
organs, egg yolk, Fe in the diet
seafoods, lean throughout the life
meats, and dried cycle.
fish b. Hemorrhagic
anemia - due to
excessive blood loss
such as in surgery,
wounds or injury
c. Postgastrectomy
anemia - due to lack
of gastric HCI 2. Hemosiderosis -
necessary to liberate
Fe for absorption
d. Malabsorption
anemia - the
presence of iron-
binding agent or
infection or
inflammations of the
absorbing surface
that decrease or
hinder the
absorption of Fe.
e. Milk anemia -
feeding older infants
solely milk, which
lacks Fe.
f. Sports anemia - due
to hemodilution
during training and
some iron losses
during stressful
Functions
a. Hemoglobin in the
abnormal deposits of RBC is the oxygen
hemosiderin in the transport unit of the
liver, spleen and other blood that conveys
tissues, due to oxygen to the cells for
abnormal activity of respiration and
the Fe absorption- metabolism.
storage mechanism. b. Constituent of
Features are bronzing myoglobin, readily
of the skin, cirrhosis available source of
of the liver, and oxygen for muscle
sclerosis of the contraction
pancreas. c. Components of
enzymes cytochrome
accumulation of oxidase, peroxidase
hemosiderin in the and catalase which
liver and other tissues make oxygen available
in quantities sufficient in regulated amounts
to destroy cells of for oxidation of
liver, other organs glucose and fatty acids
and blood cells, in the mitochondria of
observed in patients the cell.
with pernicious d. Essential for the
anemia or in normal function of the
hemolytic anemia immune system.
after multiple e. Transferrin (in blood)
transfusions. and lactoferrin (in
breast milk) protect the
body against infection
f. Iron is involved in the
function and synthesis
of neurotransmitters
and possibly, myelin.
 conditions of
training.

Iodine Clams, lobsters, IDD - refer to all the effects 1. Hypothyroidism a. Needed in the
oysters, sardines of iodine deficiency on 2. Hyperthyroidism synthesis of thyroxine
growth and development b. Prevents simple goiter
1. Goiter - enlargement c. Regulates growth and
of the thyroid gland development
2. Cretinism -
developmental
defect seen in
infants born of
mothers with severe
iodine deficiency
3. Myxedema -
characterized by
dry, thick skin, puffy
face and eyelids,
enlarged tongue,
falling hair and
teeth, etc..

Zinc Seafoods, a. Impaired growth Excess oral ingestion of zinc a. Essential for growth
shellfish, liver, b. Hypogonadism to the point of toxicity is rare. and gonadal
whole grains and c. Illnesses in which Zn poisoning results in development in man
eggyolk both the serum and increased losses of iron and b. Essential component
erythrocyte levels of copper. of the following
zinc decrease enzymes
including cirrhosis of i. Carbonic
the liver, hepatitis, anhydrase
nephrosis, etc... ii. Carboxypeptid
ase
iii. Lactic
dehydrogenase
c. Participates in RNA
metabolism together
with Fe, Ca, Mg, and
Mn.
d. Zn combines readily
with insulin in the
pancreas;
 e. Has a favorable effect
on wound healing
f. May serve as a
detoxifying agent

cobalt Liver, kidney, lean a. Pernicious anemia Polycythemia - a. Components of

and muscle meats, b. Deficiency is overproduction of red blood vitamin B12 which is
milk fish, clams associated only with cell essential for
and oyster a deficiency of maturation of red
vitamin B12 with the blood cells and normal
consequent functioning of all cells.
development of b. Acts as a cofactor of
pernicious anemia enzyme systems in
energy metabolism
c. Activates arginase
which hydrolyzes
arginine to ornithine
and urea.

copper Liver and other Anemia, neutropenia, and Wilsonic disease - a. Essential for utilization
organ, lean meats, skeletal deformities characterized by of iron in the
shellfish, nuts, especially demineralization degenerative changes in syntheses of
whole grain brain tissue, together with hemoglobin
cereals, legumes, cirrhosis of the liver. b. Maintains integrity of
eggs and poultry myelin sheath that
surrounds nerve fibers
c. Promotes maturation
of red blood cells and
prevents anemia
d. Cofactor of certain
enzymes involved in
cellular respiration
e. Involved in the
formation of melanin
pigment through its
role in tyrosine
metabolism.
f. Controls the oxidation
of fatty acids
g. Associated with the
oxidation-reduction of
enzymes in the body
 h. Has unexplained role
in bone formation

Manganese Nuts, legumes, a. Needed for protein,

tea, whole grain carbohydrate and fat
cereals, dried metabolism
fruits, green leafy b. Part of the molecular
vegetables structure of arginase
which is essential for
urea formation
c. Cofactor of bone
phosphatase and
blood phosphatase
d. Activates
cholinesterase and
muscle adenosine
triphosphatase
e. Increases thiamine
utilization
f. It is associated with
the formation of
connective and
skeletal tissues as well
as growth and
reproduction.

Molybdenum Liver, kidney, It is present inbound as an

legumes, cereals, integral part of various
milk, dark green enzymes molecule
leafy vegetables

fluorine water Dental caries Dental fluorosis - a. Prevents dental caries

characterized by an b. Essential constituent
appearance of chalky white of bones
or brownish stain. c. Effective in the
treatment of
osteoporosis
d. Given in irradiation
therapy to relieve bone
pains.

chromium Fats, corn oil, a. Catalyzes reactions

 meats, cereals, involving energy
fruits, vegetables release
b. Stimulate the
synthesis of fatty acids
and cholesterol in the
liver
c. Influences
carbohydrates, lipid
and protein
metabolism

selenium Cereals, onions Antioxidant role related to

vitamin E.