Nut chapter 12 mineral resources

 Inorganic elements essential to the nutrition of humans  Fourteen minerals are essential to body function • Play several key roles in overall health and well being - Help chemical re

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Chapter 12: Minerals

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What Are Minerals?

 Inorganic elements essential to the nutrition of

humans

 Fourteen minerals are essential to body function

• Play several key roles in overall health and well

being

- Help chemical reactions take place in cells

- Help muscles contract

- Keep the heart beating

 Two groups

• Major minerals

• Trace minerals

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What Are Minerals?

 Major minerals

• Need to consume > 100 milligrams per day

• At least 5 grams of the mineral in the body

• Calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus,

magnesium, and sulfur

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What Are Minerals?

 Trace minerals

• Need to consume > 20 milligrams per day

• The body contains less than 5 grams total

• Iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, iodide,

manganese, molybdenum, and fluoride

Figure 12.1

The Minerals in Your Body

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Minerals

 Do not contain carbon

 Contain only atoms of the same element

 Are most often found

• As individual ions

• In organic compounds

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Minerals

 Remain intact during digestion

 Generally do not change shape or structure when

performing biological functions

 Most minerals absorbed from the diet are in the form

of water-soluble salts

 Are not destroyed by heat, acid, oxygen, or ultraviolet

light

 Mineral bioavailability: Degree to which a nutrient

from food is absorbed and utilized in the body

Mineral Bioavailability

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Mineral Balance

 Body maintains tight control over mineral balance

• GI tract

 Regulates absorption from food based on the

body’s need

 Minerals in gastric juices and that slough-off

intestinal cells are either excreted in the feces or reabsorbed through the large intestine

• Kidneys

 Excretes excess and reabsorbs the minerals when

the body needs them

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Mineral Functions

 Minerals work together to perform important

functions in the body

• Fluid and electrolyte balance

• Blood formation

• Building healthy bones

• Maintaining a healthy immune system

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Minerals Help Maintain Fluid Balance

 Minerals play a key role in fluid balance in the cells

• Extracellular minerals – sodium and chloride

• Intracellular mineral – potassium with the help of

calcium, magnesium, and sulfur

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Mineral Participate as Cofactors

 Cofactor – substance that helps catalyze a reaction

 Minerals serve as cofactors in

• Antioxidant systems

• Energy production

• Muscle contraction

• Nerve transmission

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Minerals Make Up Bones and Teeth

 Minerals make up the crystalline structure

(hydroxyapatite) that gives strength to bones and teeth

• Major minerals

- Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium

• Trace mineral

- Flouride

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Minerals Can Be Toxic

 If ingested in high amounts, minerals can be toxic;

however, mineral toxicity is rare

 Toxicity most often seen with

• Large amounts of supplements

• Certain conditions that interfere with the body’s

adaptive abilities

 Toxicity not generally seen from excess dietary intake

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Quick Review

 Minerals

• Inorganic nutrients

• Are classified as either major or trace base on amount found in the body and the amount needed daily

• Bioavailability is based on nutritional status and

mineral binding

• Play a vital role in numerous body functions

- Bone and blood health

- Fluid balance

- Cofactors in energy production and muscle

contraction

- Nerve transmission

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Quick Review Continued

 Mineral toxicity

• Rare

- Most people do not ingest overly high amount

from food

- Body adjusts absorption and excretion

• Occurs with ingestion of high doses of supplements