NCM 105 – CHAPTER 4.

1: MINERALS
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MINERALS
 Are elements in their simple inorganic form. In nutrition, they are commonly referred to as mineral
elements
 Minerals are needed by the body in relatively small amounts to help regulate body process and maintain
tissue structure
 Minerals do not break down during digestion nor destroyed by heat or light
 Minerals are found in water and in natural (unprocessed) foods, together
 With proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins

CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Major Minerals – because each is required in amounts greater than 100 mg a day
2. Trace Minerals – which are needed in amounts smaller than 100 mg a day

MAJOR MINERALS
1. Calcium
2. Phosphorus
3. Magnesium
4. Potassium
5. Sodium
6. Chloride
7. Sulfur

1. CALCIUM (Ca)
 A mineral found in many foods
 The body needs calcium to maintain strong bones and to carry out many important functions
 DISTRIBUTION
 Total body weight: 1.5 to 2.2% is calcium
 Bones and teeth: 99%
 Soft tissues and body fluids: 1%
 FUNCTIONS
 Calcium, in combination with phosphorus, is a component of bones and teeth, giving
them strength and hardness
 Participate in muscular contraction and relaxation
 Promotes blood coagulation
 Required in nerve transmission and regulation of heart beat
 UTILIZATION
 Vit. D enhances the optimum absorption of calcium
 Oxalic and Phytic acids interfere with absorption of calcium.
o Oxalic – seen in grains, nuts, seeds and beans
o Phytic – in green leafy vegetables
 Lack of exercise may cause a loss of bone calcium and reduced ability to replace it.
 Mental stress or emotional instability, alcohol intake among alcoholics can cause
decreased calcium absorption
o Alcohol intake interferes with the pancreas and its absorption of calcium and vit
D alcohol also affects the liver – calcium absorption
 Caffeine increases urinary calcium excretion (1 cup coffee)
o coffee – polyphenol found in coffee and tea are thought be major inhibitors of
iron absorption
 DEFICIENCY
 RICKETS
o It causes bowed legs, “pigeon breast,” and enlarged wrists or ankles
o This is a disease that occurs in early childhood and results in poorly formed bone
structure
 ADULT RICKETS (OSTEOMALACIA)
o Softening of the bones, typically through a deficiency of vitamin D or calcium
 RETARDED GROWTH
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 TETANY
o Insufficient calcium in the blood that causes involuntary muscle movement
 EXCESS
 Hypercalcemia
 Excessive intake may cause constipation, or it may inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc
 FOOD SOURCES
 The best sources of calcium are milk and milk products. They provide large quantities of
calcium in small servings.
 Some dark green, leafy vegetables
 Kuhol
 Malunggay leaves
 Saluyot
 Dilis
 However, when the vegetable contains oxalic acid, as spinach and Swiss chard do, the
calcium remains unavailable because the oxalic acid binds it and prevents it from being
absorbed

2. PHOSPHORUS
 Phosphorus, together with calcium, is necessary for the formation of strong, rigid bones and
teeth
 Like calcium, phosphorus is stored in bones, and its absorption is increased in the presence of
vitamin D
 DISTRIBUTION:
 1% Normal human body contains
 85% Bones and teeth in combination with calcium
 15% Chiefly in the cells in combination with carbohydrate, protein, fats, and with
cations such as Na, Ca, and Mg.
 FUNCTIONS
 Development of bones and teeth
 Maintenance of normal acid-base balance of the blood
 Constituent of all body cells
 Necessary for effectiveness of some vitamins
 Metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins
 DEFICIENCY
 Poor tooth and bone formation
 Weakness
 Anorexia
 General malaise
 EFFECTS OF EXCESS
 No harm as these are simply voided in the stools
 FOOD SOURCES
 Cheese, milk, dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, dried beans, cereals, legumes and nuts

3. MAGNESIUM
 An abundant mineral in the body
 Available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids and
laxatives)
 DISTRIBUTION:
 50% is found in the bones in combination with phosphate and calcium
 1% is found in the blood serum and kept under tight control
 FUNCTIONS
 It regulates blood phosphorus level
 It is necessary to promote the conduction of nerve impulses and to allow normal muscle
contraction
 It may also increase the stability of calcium in the tooth enamel
 Activation of metabolic enzymes
 Constituent of bones, muscles, and red blood cells
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 Necessary for healthy muscle and nerves
 FOOD SOURCES
 Green, leafy vegetables, Whole grains, avocado, nuts, milk, legumes, banana
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY
 Hypomagnesemia Tetany is a condition of mineral imbalance in the body that results in
severe muscle spasms; observed among infants and Children suffering from Kwashiorkor
 EXCESS
 Hypermagnesemia occurs rarely because the kidney is very effective in excreting excess
magnesium

4. POTASSIUM
 Potassium is an electrolyte found primarily in intracellular fluid
 Potassium maintains the fluid level within the cell, and sodium maintains the fluid level outside
the cell
 FUNCTIONS
 It maintains fluid and electrolyte balance
 It acts as muscle relaxant in contrast to calcium which stimulate muscular contraction
 It is important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
 There is normally more potassium than sodium inside the cell and more sodium than
potassium outside the cell. If this balance is upset and the sodium inside the cell
increases, the fluid within the cell also increases, swelling it and causing edema
 It exerts an influence upon acid-base balance and plays a significant role in the activity
of the skeletal and cardiac muscles
 If the sodium level outside the cell drops, fluid enters the cell to dilute the potassium
level, thereby causing a reduction in extracellular fluid. With the loss of sodium and
reduction of extracellular fluid, a decrease in blood pressure and dehydration can result
 FOOD SOURCES
 Meat, legumes, milk, raw and dried fruits, fruit juice, dark green vegetables, unrefined
cereals
 RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE
 About 2 to 6 gms potassium in the diet
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY
 HYPOKALEMIA
o causes: diarrhea, vomiting, diabetic acidosis, severe malnutrition, or excessive
use of laxatives or diuretics
 APATHY
 MUSCULAR WEAKNESS
 MENTAL CONFUSION
 ABDOMINAL DISTENSION
 EXCESS
 HYPERKALEMIA
o The toxicity causes weakening of heart action, mental confusion, poor
respiration, and numbness of extremities
o Due to some disorders, kidney fails to excrete the potassium properly

5. SODIUM
 Sodium is an element that the body needs to work properly
 The body uses sodium to control blood pressure and blood volume
 DISTRIBUTION:
 50% extracellular fluid
 10% found within the cells
 40% found in the skeleton
 1.8 mg/kg total sodium in the body
 FUNCTIONS
 It is responsible for maintaining fluid balance
 It is responsible for maintaining acid-base balance
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 It also allows passage of materials like glucose through cell wall and maintain normal
muscle irritability or excitability
 FOOD SOURCES
 The primary dietary source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), which is 40%
sodium.
 Beef, eggs, poultry, milk, cheese
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY
 Hyponatremia occurs in dehydration, blood loss, diarrhea and vomiting, restrictions in
diet long term
 EFFECTS OF EXCESS
 Accumulates principally in the extracellular fluid and results to edema and this usually
occurs in certain conditions like hypertension and kidney disease

6. CHLORIDE
 DISTIRIBUTION
 CSF
 FOOD SOURCE
 FUNCTIONS
 It maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, acid base balance
 It contributes to necessary acidity in the stomach
 It helps the blood carry carbon dioxide to the lungs and is necessary during immune
responses when white blood cells attack foreign cells
 DEFICIENCY
 It can occur, however, with severe vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive use of diuretics, and
alkalosis can result

7. SULFUR
 DISTRIBUTION:
 Occurs in every protein cell and comprises about 0.25% of body weight
 It is highly concentrated in the hair, skin, and nails
 FUNCTIONS
 Maintenance of protein structure
 For building hair, nails, and all body tissues
 Constituents of all body cells
 FOOD SOURCE
 Protein contains about 1% sulfur
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY OR EXCESS
 A hereditary defect in tubular reabsorption of amino acid cystine may lead to excessive
excretion in the urine causing cystinuria

TRACE MINERALS
 The body requires trace minerals in smaller amounts than major minerals; they are just as important as
the major minerals
 Recommended daily values for trace minerals do not exceed 20 mg per day

1. IRON
 DISTRIBUTION
 75 mg/kg Body weight
 60% to 75%, 5% Hemoglobin; myoglobin (muscle hemoglobin)
 26% Found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow
 FUNCTIONS
 Carrier of oxygen needed for cellular respiration.
 Necessary for hemoglobin formation.
 Active component of tissue enzyme involved in the conversion of beta-carotene to Vit.
A, antibody production.
 TYPES OF IRON
 HEME IRON
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 NON – HEME IRON
 BODY NEEDS
o Increased need of Iron is higher during growth, pregnancy and lactation
o Found only in the meat and more absorbed by the body
o From other iron-containing foods like cereals, vegetables, and eggs
o Found only in the meat and more absorbed by the body
o From other iron-containing foods like cereals, vegetables, and eggs
o Bulk in the diet
o Intake of coffee
o Presence of Ascorbic Acid
o 40 to 50 mg of ascorbic acid to a meal of bread, egg and tea or coffee increases
iron absorption from 3.7 to 10.4%
o Increased fiber in the diet interferes with the absorption of iron
o Iron absorption is reduced. It is even greater with stronger coffee
 FOOD SOURCES
 Organs meat-liver, enriched rice, rice bran, saluyot, sitao leaves, spaghetti, dried beans
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY
 ANEMIA
o CAUSES:
a. Inadequate intake of Fe
b. Excessive excretion of Fe
c. Inadequate formation of RBC
o Condition characterized by a reduction in size or number of RBC or quantity of
hemoglobin
o Caused by poor quality sources or poor cookery (nutritional anemia)
o Caused by blood loss in pregnancy, parasitism and blood donation (hemorrhagic
anemia)
o Because of Vitamin B12 deficiency caused by lack of intrinsic factor
o SYMPTOMS:
a. pallor, easy fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, lack of appetite
 EFECTS OF EXCESS
 HEMOSIDEROSIS
o Excessive amount of Fe in the body
o CAUSES:
a. excessive iron intake through use of supplements
b. failure of the body to regulate iron absorption which is more genetic in
nature
 HEMOCHROMATOSIS
o Genetically transmitted disease
o An individual absorbs unusually large amounts of iron and store it in tissues that
normally do not store iron.
o Excessive iron intake is common among: those who cook food in iron pots
o Infants – if iron supplements are given in amounts more than what the body
needs
o Multiple blood transfusion

2. COPPER
 DISTRIBUTION
 All tissues contain traces of copper. Large amounts are found in the liver, brain, heart
and kidney
 FUNCTIONS
 Essential in the formation of hemoglobin.
 Promotes absorption of iron from the GIT
 It is valuable catalyst in oxidation
 It also helps to maintain the integrity of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers
 It helps in bone formation
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 FOOD SOURCES
 meat muscles, fish, poultry, shellfish, leafy vegetables, cereals, fresh fruits
 DEFICIENCY
 depigmentation of skin and hair, CNS abnormalities, hypotonia, hypothermia, hychronic
microcytic anemia, skeletal mineralization in infants and children
 EXCESS
 Wilson’s disease – excessive accumulation of copper

3. IODINE
 DISTRIBUTION
 The adult body contains 20 to 30 mg of Iodine.
 70% to 80%/ 8 mg is concentrated in the thyroid gland
 The rest is throughout all tissues, especially in the ovaries, muscles and blood.
 FUNCTIONS
 For the synthesis of thyroxin.
 FOOD SOURCES
 Sea foods, sea weeds, iodized salt
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY
 GOITER
 CRETINISM – caused by insufficient iodine intake of a mother during pregnancy
 MYXEDEMA – adults who had problems with low iodine intake throughout their
childhood and adolescence.
 Which deprives the fetus of the nutrient and the baby born becomes cretin.
 The child suffer from hypothyroidism, physically dwarfed, mentally retarded, with thick
pasty skin and protruding abdomen.

4. MANGANESE
 DISTRIBUTION
 10 to 20 mg present in the adult body; concentrated in the liver and kidneys
 FUNCTIONS
 An activator of a number of metabolic reactions
 Acts as catalyst of a number of enzymes necessary in glucose and fat metabolism.
 Increases storage of thiamine
 FOOD SOURCES
 No incidence of deficiency or toxicity of manganese
 Nuts, green leafy vegetables, whole grain cereals, dried fruits, dried legumes, fresh
fruits, tea, non-leafy vegetables
5. COBALT
 DISTRIBUTION
 Found only in trace amounts in the body
 FUNCTIONS
 Constituent of B12
 Essential factor which is necessary for RBC formation
 Essential for normal functions of all cells
 FOOD SOURCES
 Liver, kidney, oysters, clams, lean beef, veal, poultry, salt water fish, milk
 REQUIREMENTS
 The nutritional requirement of cobalt is restricted to the body’s need for vit. B12 as the
body cannot utilize cobalt to synthesize the vitamin
 DEFICIENCY – Pernicious anemia
 EXCESS
 POLYCYTHEMIA
o Increase in the number of RBC and hyperplasia of bone marrow

6. ZINC
 Zinc in the blood
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 Present in RBC
 WBC and platelets
 Remainder in the serum
 DISTRIBUTION
 The body contains about 2 to 5 gms of zinc.
 700 to 800 ug,
 80%
 4%
 The serum zinc is 90 ug/100 mL
 FUNCTIONS
 It is present in RNA.
 It is related to the hormone insulin, glucagons, ACTH, growth hormone, gona dotropin
and testosterone.
 It plays a role in the acceleration of wound healing and for normal sense of taste
 FOOD SOURCES
 Milk, meat, nuts, legumes, oyster, eggs, whole grain cereals, wheat, bran
 DEFICIENCY
 Slow growth, alopecia, disturbances in the keratinization process in the skin and
esophagus, hypospermia, delayed sexual maturation, white cells defects, night blindness
 EXCESS
 Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever

7. MOLYBDENUM
 DISTRIBUTION
 9 mg is present in the body
 it is concentrated in the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, and blood cells
 FUNCTIONS
 It is present inbound as an integral part of the various enzyme molecules.
 These enzymes are xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, flavoprotein
 FOOD SOURCES
 Dried peas, beans, lean meats, poultry
 REQUIREMENT:
 a daily intake of 50 to 500 ug is considered a safe and adequate intake for adults
 DEFICIENCY
 Headache, irritability, night blindness, lethargy, coma, abnormal metabolism of sulfur
containing amino acids, abnormal degradation of nucleic acids

C. GROUP III: OTHER TRACE MINERALS

1. FLOURINE
 DISTRIBUTION:
 Is found primarily in the bones and teeth, and trace amounts in the thyroid gland and
skin
 FUNCTION
 It forms a more stable compound in the dentine and enamel of the teeth thus reducing
dental caries and minimizing bone loss
 It is effective in the treatment of osteoporosis
 FOOD SOURCES
 Water is the major source
 DEFICIENCY
 Dental caries
 EXCESS
 Dental Fluorosis – melting of the enamel
 Osteosclerosis
o Osteosclerosis is a type of osteopetrosis that involves abnormal hardening of
bone and an elevation in bone density
 Growth Depression
 Fatal Poisoning
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2. SELENIUM
 DISTRIBUTION
 Dependent upon the soil content where the food source was grown
 FUNCTIONS
 Reduces or prevents the effects of Vitamin E deficiency
 It is a component of Glutathione peroxidase which is responsible of inactivating the
peroxides that cause the oxidation and rancidity of fats
 FOOD SOURCES
 Organ meats, muscle meats, cereals, dairy products
 EFFECTS OF DEFICIENCY AND EXCESS
 Muscle pain and tenderness, pancreatic degeneration, hemolytic anemia

3. CHROMIUM
 DISTRIBUTION
 6 to 10 mg of chromium in the body
 FUNCTIONS
 It raises abnormally low fasting blood sugar levels and improves faulty uptake of sugar
by body tissues
 It stimulates synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol in the liver
 FOOD SOURCES
 Corn oil, clams, whole grain cereals, vegetables, meats
 REQUIREMENTS
 normal adults – 50 to 200 mcg/day

4. VANADIUM
 DISTRIBUTION
 A constituent of human tissue
 FUNCTIONS
 It is involved in the appetite crystal formation of tooth enamel, hence, may contribute
to resistance to dental decay
 REQUIREMENT
 0.1 to 0.3 mg/day