Minerals

• Are simple inorganic elements that are non-

caloric and remain ash when the food or
organic compound where they are found is
completely burnt.
• Found in unrefined foods and traces in water
• Body comprises about:
– 63% (water)
– 18% (protein)
– 13% (fat)
– 1% (carbohydrates)

–4-6% (minerals)
 Classification
• Macrominerals (major minerals)
(>0.005% of body weight)
Calcium (Ca)=1.5-2.2%
Phosphorous (P) =0.8 -1.2%
Potassium (K)=0.35%
Sulfur (S)=0.25%
Sodium (Na)=0.15%
Chloride (Cl)=0.15%
Magnesium (Mg)=0.05%
• Microminerals (trace minerals):
(<0.005% of body weight)
Iron (Fe)=0.004%
Zinc (Zn)=0.002%
Selenium (Se)=0.0003%
Manganese (Mn)=0.0002%
Copper (Cu)=0.00015%
Iodine (I)=0.00004%
Flouride (F)=0.00004%
 Functions
• A. Structural
– The presence of the mineral in significant amounts
to be part of the cells or as an important
component of a molecule
– Example: Calcium, magnesium, phosphorous in
the bones and teeth
• B. Regulatory
– The physiological processes for normal functioning
of tissues or body fluids.
1. Maintenance of Acid-Base Balance
2. Catalysts for metabolic reactions
3. Regulator of muscle contractility
4. Transmitter of nerve impulses
 ESSENTIAL MACROMINERALS
• 1. Calcium
• 2. Phosphorous
• 3. Magnesium
• 4. Potassium
• 5. Sodium
• 6. Chlorine
• 7. Sulfur
 CALCIUM
• 1.5-2.2% (22gm/kg fat free body weight)
• 99% is present in the bones
• 1% is present in the soft tissues and body
fluids
• Duodenal area
• Increased need in growth, pregnancy and
lactation
• Vitamin D
 CALCIUM
• 1. Bone and teeth formation
• 2. Muscular contraction
• 3. Blood Coagulation
• 4. Enzyme activation and catalyst for biological
reactions
• High intakes of meat increases the excretion of
Calcium
• A high ratio of lactose to calcium is necessary
• The ratio of calcium to phosphorous is
important
• Oxalic and phytic acids interfere with absorption
• Increase GI motility cause decrease 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 absorption.
• Some medications, alcohol intake, excess fat
intake decrease calcium absorption.
• Caffeine increases urinary calcium excretion
• Estrogen improves efficiency of calcium
absorption.
• Boron appears to be essential for the proper
utilization of calcium and Vitamin D.
• Food Sources:
– Snail
– Milk
– Shrimp
– Crabs
– Sardines
– Anchovies
– Cheese
– Seaweeds
– Fishes
– Malunggay, gabi, ampalaya
– Saluyot
 Recommended Intake
• Age 19-49=0.75 gm or 750 mg
• Pregnant=0.8 gm
• 6-11mos=0.4 gm
• 1-9y.o.=0.5-0.7 gm
• 10-18y.o.=1gm
• 65 and above=0.8 gm
• Supplements should be under physician’s
order
 Deficiency
• Ricketsia
• Osteomalacia
• Tetany
• Osteoporosis
 Excess
• Hypercalcemia
 Phosphorous
• 1% of TBW
• 85% found in bones
• 15% is in the metabolic pool with CHON, CHO,
Fat along w/ calcium, sodium and magnesium
 Functions
• 1. part of bones and teeth
• 2. participates in the metabolic processes
– Phosphorylation of glucose
– Part of DNA and RNA molecules
– Regulation of pH (buffer system)
• Absorbed in the intestine with the help of enzyme
phophatase.
• 1:1 ratio to calcium, if not may result to losses via fecal
excretion
• 0-6 mos=90 mg
• 6-11 mos=275 mg
• 1-9 y.o=460-500 mg
• 10-19y.o.=1250 mg
• Adults (19 years and above)=700mg
• Pregnant and lactating=700mg
• Deficient:
– Hypophosphatemia
– Affect formation of ATP and other metabolic functions
– Skeletal myopathy
– Cardiomyopathy
• Excess:
– Hyperphosphatemia
– Hypocalcemia
– Tetany or death
 POTASSIUM
• Kalium
• It is the principal cation present in the cells
• 2.6 gm/ kg fat free body weight
• 0.35% of body weight
 Functions
• 1. maintains fluid and electrolyte balance
• 2. important for carbohydrate and protein
metabolism
• Potassium is absorbed in the intestine
• Serum potassium level: 16-20mg
• Sources: nuts, meats, legume, meat, milk, raw
and dried fruits, dark green vegetables
• Effects: Hypokalemia/Hyperkalemia
 Sulfur
• Sulfur occurs in almost every protein cell and
comprises about 0.25% of body weight
• Absorbed in the intestine
• Cystinuria
• Cystine kidney stones
 Sodium
• Found in the extracellular fluid
• The vascular fluids within the blood vessels,
arteries, veins, capillaries and the intercellular
fluids surrounding the cells
• Sodium serum level: 136-145MEq/L
• 5000mg of Na is sufficient
• 2000mg = low Na diet
 Functions
• Maintain fluid balance
• Maintain acid-base balance
• Allows the passage of materials like glucose
and maintains normal muscle irritability or
excitability
 Effects of deficiency and excess
• Hyponatremia
– Dehydration
– After surgical procedures with marked loss of
blood
– After marked vomiting and diarrhea
– After long term and vigorous treatment with very
restricted sodium diets
• The veins will collapse, low BP, rapid pulse
• Excess sodium will result to edema
• HPN, kidney disorder, Cushing’s disease, brain
injury
 Chlorine
• Major anion in the ECF
• CSF has the highest concentration
• Normal plasma chlorine level: 95-105mEq/L
• Absorbed in the intestine and excreted in the
kidney
• Source: NaCl
 Functions
• Helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance
and acid-base balance
• As a component of HCl
 Effects of deficiency
• Alkalosis results when there is an excessive
loss of chlorine ions from gastric secretion
during continued vomiting, diarrhea or tube
drainage
 Magnesium
• About 50% of magnesium in the body is
present n the bones
• The remaining is in the body cells
• 1% in the ECF
• 0.5gm/fat free body weight
• Plasma conains 1.5-2mEq/L of Mg
• Absorbed in the small intestine
 Functions
• 1. Essential part of many enzyme system
responsible for the transfer of energy
• 2. Key core of chlorophyll molecule
• 3. essential in cellular metabolism
• 4. necessary to promote conduction of nerve
impulses and to allow normal muscular contraction
• 5. Increase stability of calcium in the tooth enamel
• 6. regulation of blood phosphorous level
• Abundant in nuts, cocoa, seafoods, dried
beans, peas, green plants, whole grains
• Dietary Mg can be estimated by the following
prediction formula: =
• mEq dietary Mg=0.01117 + (0.00099 x Kcal)
• adults 19 years and above=235mg/day for
males and 205mg/day for females
 Effects
• Magnesium deficiency- (Hypomagnesemic
tetany)
• Hypermagnesemia or toxicity of Mg