Major Minerals

Major Minerals
 Major minerals are required in the diet &
present in the body in large amounts
compared to trace minerals
 Trace minerals are minerals required in the
diet & present in the body in very small
amount (less than 100mg)
 Animal foods contain more reliable source
of minerals than plant are.
 Drinking water can sometimes be a
significant source of sodium, magnesium &
fluoride.
Major Minerals
 Sodium
 Potassium
 Chloride
 Calcium
 Phosphorus
 Magnesium
 Sulfur
Sodium (Na)
 Functions
 Major caption in extracellular fluid &
critical electrolytes in regulation of
body fluids
 Maintain proper body H2O distribution
and blood pressure
 Nerve & muscle transmission
 Control the body acidity
 Aids the absorption of glucose
 Sodium
 RDA
 No RDA for sodium
 Min 500mg/day (1 tea spoon of table salt
or 2 teaspoon of baking soda)
 Severe diarrhea – electrolytes solution is
the best source of sodium replacement
 Sodium
 Source of sodium
 Table salt & soy sauce are high in sodium
 Salty or smoked meals and fish, salted
snack foods
 Kidney retain the sodium the body need &
excrete the excess sodium in urine.
 Taking too much sodium & not enough
H2O – dehydration
 Taking salt tablets before or after exercise
is unnecessary & harmful.
Sodium
 Hypoatremia
 Low blood sodium as a result of severe
diarrhea, vomiting or intense prolonged
sweating.
 Treatment – replacement of fluid and
mineral through liquids & food or
intravenous solution.
 Not treated – headache, confusion,
seizure or coma.
 Sodium
 Hyperatremia
 Abnormally high [sodium] in blood due to
rapid intake of large amounts of sodium
(e.g., drinking sea water)
 Result – edema (swelling) and raise in BP
 Usually seen in patients with congestive
heart failure or kidney disease.
 Contribute to hypertension, osteoporosis
(increase calcium loss in urine)
Potassium
 Functions
 Important component of muscle
contraction
 Transmission of nerve impulses
 Help regulate BP
Potassium
 RDA
 Min requirement 2000-3000mg/day

 Source
 Major - Fresh vegetables & fruits e.g.,
potatoes, spinach, melons & banana.
 Fresh meat, milk, coffee & tea
Potassium
 Hypokalemia
 Low blood potassium cause by
vomiting, diarrhea or diuretic.
 Symptoms – muscle weakness, loss of
appetite, confusion
 Severe – disrupt heart rhythms (fatal)
 High risk – people with poor diet,
alcoholics, anorexia or bulimia nervosa.
Potassium
 Hyperkalemia
 High [potassium] in blood
 Excess potassium due to kidney
malfunction to remove excess
potassium.
 Severe – stop the heart
Chloride (C1-)
 Functions
 Maintain body fluid balance
 Combine with H+ to form hydrochloric
acid (HCI) in the stomach – help kills
many disease causing bacteria & help
prepare protein for enzymatic
digestion.
 WBC use chloride ions to form a
powerful chemical to kill invading
bacteria.
Chloride (C1-)
 RDA
 3400mg/day
 Consumption of excess sodium &
chloride may aggravate hypertension
 Source
 Natural source – fruit & vegetables
 salt
Chloride (C1-)
 Hypochloremia
 Chloride deficiency due to vomiting.
 Risk – anorexia & bulimia.
 Can cause dehydration and metabolic
alkalosis (high blood pH)
 Treatment – oral or intravenous fluids
Calcium (Ca)
 Functions
 Bone structure
 Nerve function
 Blood clotting
 Muscle contraction
 Cellular metabolism
Calcium (Ca)
 Regulation of blood calcium
 Vitamin D
 Increase calcium absorption
 Parathyroid hormone
 When plasma calcium levels are too low,
the parathyroid gland secretes
parathyroid hormone (PTH).
 PTH activate bone-resorbing osteoclasts
that break down bone & release calcium
into the blood
 PTH increase kidney re-absorption of
calcium & stimulate calcitriol production –
enhance calcium absorption.
Calcium (Ca)
 Enhancer of Ca Absorption
 Stomach acid
 Vitamin D
 Lactose
 Growth Hormone
Calcium (Ca)
 RDA
 AI 1000mg/day adults (19-50 years)
 Adolescents need more calcium to
maximize peak bone mass. AI
1300mg/day (9-18 years)
 AI older adults (above 51 years)
1200mg/day
Calcium (Ca)
 Source
 Non fat milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese,
spinach, tofu,
 Hypocalcemia
 Low calcium in blood
 Causes – kidney failure, vitamin D deficiency
 Hypercalcemia
 Cause by cancer & overproduction of PTH
 Symptom – fatigue, confusion, loss of appetite,
and constipation.
Phosphorus
 Common in many crucial metabolic systems
 Used to activate & deactivate enzymes, &
essential component of ATP, the energy
source of the cell
 About 85% of phosphorus found in bone
 Milk & meat are major sources of dietary
phosphorus
 RDA for adults is 700mg / day
 Increasing 1,250mg / day for teens
 Diets high in phosphorus & low in calcium
can contribute to bone loss
Magnesium
 Functions
 Participates in enzyme mediated
reaction (e.g., DNA & protein
synthesis).
 Essential for ATP production via the
ETC & glycolysis
 Participate in muscle contraction
 Blood clotting.
Magnesium
 RDA
 Adults (19-30 years) is 400mg/day (men);
310mg (women)
 Adults (31-70 years) is 420mg/day (men); 320
(women)

 Source
 Spinach, potatoes, legumes, tofu, & some type of
sea food.
Magnesium
 Hypomagnesemia
 Magnesium deficiency occurs with variety of
diseases – kidney disease, alcoholism & diuretic
drugs.
 Risks – prolonged diarrhea, alcoholic.

 Hypermagnesemia
 Abnormal high [magnesium] in blood.
 Symptom – nausea & general weakness.
 UL not more than 350mg/day
Sulfur
 Is a component of the amino acids
methionine & cystine, as well as of the
vitamins biotin & thiamin
 Important in drug detoxication & in
maintaining acid-base balance
 A diet sufficient in protein contains
adequate sulfur
Major Mineral & Health
 Hypertension
 High sodium intake, low intake of
potassium, calcium, magnesium,
excess weight, alcoholism can
contribute to the development of
hypertension.
 Eating a diet with lots of fresh foods &
avoiding processed food – reduce the
risk
Major Mineral & Health
 Osteoporosis
 Primarily affect post-menopausal women.
 Adequate calcium intake early in life helps
maximize peak bone mass.