MINERALS
DEFINITION :
“A mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organism to perform function necessary for life”.
OR
“Minerals are inorganic substances required by the body in small amounts for a variety of different function”.
Classification:
1) Major Elements:
• These are also known as “Macrominerals”.
• It is required in amount > 100 mg/day.
• Atleast 5 gram of the mineral present in the body.
• Eg – Calcium , Sodium , Potassium , Chloride , Phosphorous , Magnesium , Sulphur , Fluoride
2) Minor Elements:
• These are also known as “Microminerals”.
• It is required in amount < 100 mg/day.
• Less than 5 gram of total mineral present in the body.
• Eg – Iron , Zinc , Copper , Selenium , Chromium , Iodide , Manganese , Molybdenum
3) Necessary:
• It is necessary for the body but their exact function are not known.
• Eg – Chromium , Nickel , Bromide , Lithium , Barium
4)Non-Essential:
• Seen in tissues.
• Contaminant in food stuffs.
• Eg – Rubedium , Silver , Gold , Bismuth
5) Toxic:
• It is should be avoided.
• Eg – Aluminium , Cadmium , Mercury
Major minerals:
Calcium –
Chemical formula : (Ca2+)
Sources :
Dairy products , Fish with bones , Tofu , Leafy green vegetables , legumes , Fortified foods , yogurt , cheese , salmon , sardiness
Daily Requirement : 1000 mg
Function:
a) Development of bones and teeth
b) Transmission of nerve impulses
c) Blood clotting
d) Normal heart action
e) Normal muscle action
Deficiency:
• Children – Stunted growth
• Adults – Osteoporosis
Toxic effects:
• Diarrhoea
• Interference with absorption of other minerals
Sodium –
Chemical formula : (Na+)
Sources : Table salt . soy sauce , MSG , all processed foods
Daily Requirement : 2400 mg
Function:
a) Maintains normal fluid and electrolytes balance
b) Assists nerve impulse transmission
c) Muscle contraction
Deficiency:
• Muscle cramps
• Mental apathy
• Loss of appetite
Toxic effects:
• Edema
• Acute hypertension
• Increased calcium excretion
Potassium –
Chemical formula : (K+)
Sources :Fresh vegetables , Bananas , Citrus food , Milk , Meats , Fish
Daily Requirement : 3500 mg
Function:
a) Maintain normal fluid and electrolyte balance
b) Assist nerve impulse transmission
c) Muscle contraction
Deficiency:
• Muscular weakness
• Paralysis
• Confusion due to dehydration
Toxic effects:
• Muscular weakness
• Vomiting reflex
Chloride –
Chemical formula : (Cl-)
Sources : Table salt , Eggs , Seafood , Milk
Daily Requirement : 3400 mg
Function:
a) Gastric acidity
b) Regulates acid-base balance in the body
c) Maintains fluid & electrolyte balance
d) Formation of hydrochloric acid
Deficiency:
• Imbalance in gastric acidity
• Imbalance in blood pH
Toxic effects:
• Exhaustion
• Nausea
Phosphorous
Chemical formula : (P)
Sources : Fish , Poultry , Eggs , Milk , Meat , Cheese , Lean , Legumes , Nuts , Whole-Grains cereals
Daily Requirement : 1000 mg
Function:
a) Development of bones & teeth
b) Maintains normal pH of the blood
c) Constituent of all body cells
d) CHO , CHON & fat metabolism
Deficiency:
• Weakness
• Bone pain
Toxic effects:
• Low blood calcium
• Increased calcium excretion
Magnesium
Chemical formula : (Mg2+)
Sources : Nuts , Legumes , Whole grains , Dark leafy greens , seafood , Chocolate , Cocoa
Daily Requirement : 350 mg
Function:
a) Mineralization of bones & teeth
b) It helps enzymes function
c) Muscle contraction
d) Nerve transmission
Deficiency:
• Weakness
• Muscle twitches
• Confusion
• Convulsion
• Bizarre muscle movements
Toxic effects:
• Confusion
• Lack of muscle coordination
• Death
TRACE ELEMENTS :
Iron –
Chemical Formula: (Fe+)
Sources: Red meats , Fish , Poultry , Eggs , Legumes , Dried fruits , Shellfish , Liver , Whole grains or enriched breads & cereals , Dark green & leafy vegetables , Molasses
Diet requirements: 15mg
Functions:
a) Transports oxygen & carbon dioxide
b) Hemoglobin formation
c) Component of cellular enzymes essential for energy production
Deficiency:
• Anaemia
• Weakness
• Headaches
• Reduced immunity
• Low cold tolerance
Toxic effects:
• Infection
• Fatigue
• Liver damage
• Colon cancer
• Bloody stools
• Fatal to kids
Zinc
Chemical Formula: (Zn+)
Sources: Seafood , Eggs , Milk , Legumes , Wheat bran , Esp. oysters
Daily Requirements: 15 mg
Functions:
a) Formation of collagen
b) Wound healing
c) Taste acuity
d) Essential for growth
e) Immune reaction
Deficiency:
• Failure to grow
• Dermatitis
• Loss of taste
• Poor healing
• Sex retardation
Toxic effects:
• Nausea
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Uncoordinated
• Anaemia
• Heart disease
Copper
Chemical Formula: (Cu)
Sources: Poultry , Shellfish , Legumes , Whole grain breads , Cereals
Diet requirement: 2 mg
Functions:
a) Facilitates the function of many enzymes
b) Iron may be an integral part of DNA & RNA molecule
Deficiency:
• Pallor
• Retarted growth
• Edema
• Anorexia
Toxic effects:
• Wilson’s disease
• Deterioration of neurological process
Selenium
Chemical Formula: (Se+6)
Sources: Seafoods , Meats , Grains , Vegetable depending on soil content , Whole grains , Cereals
Diet requirement: 35 μg
Functions:
a) Antioxidants
b) Works with Vitamin E
Deficiency:
• Keshan disease
• Muscle pain / degradation
• Cataracts
• Low sperm
• Fragile RBCs
• Heart damage
Toxic effects:
• Muscle damage
• Nail & Hair brittleness
• Loss nerve
• Liver damage
• Nausea
Chromium
Chemical Formula: (Cr)
Sources: Meat , Whole grains , Vegetable oils
Diet requirement: 120 μg
Functions:
It helps insulin move glucose from blood into cells
Deficiency:
Abnormal glucose metabolism
Toxic effects:
Possible muscle degeneration
Iodine
Chemical Formula: (I2)
Sources: Iodized salt , Seafood , Plant grown in Iodine rich soil
Diet requirement: 150 μg
Functions:
a) A component of thyroid hormone – helps to regulate growth , development , metabolism.
b) Regulation of basal metabolic rate
Deficiency:
• Goiter
• Cretinism
• Myxedema
Toxic effects:
• Low thyroid activity
• Enlarged thyroid
Manganese
Chemical Formula: (MnO2)
Sources: Whole grains , Nuts , Fruits , Vegetable
Diet requirement: 5 mg
Functions:
Enzyme function
Deficiency:
• Impaired growth
• Skeletal abnormalities
• Neonatal ataxia
Toxic effects:
• In extremely high exposure from contamination
• Severe psychiatric & neurologic disorder
Molybdenum
Chemical Formula: (Mo+2)
Sources:
Whole grains , Organ meat , Peas , Beane
Diet requirement: 75 μg
Functions:
Energy metabolism
Deficiency:
• Brain abnormalities
• Developmental delays
• Childhood death
• It’s extremely rare
Toxic effects:
Gout like syndrome
Fluoride
Chemical Formula: (F-)
Sources: Fluoridated water , Seafood , Tea
Diet requirement: 3-5 mg
Functions:
a) Helps to make bones & teeth stronger
b) Increase resistance to tooth decay
Deficiency:
• Susceptibility to tooth decay
• Possibly osteoporosis
Toxic effects:
• Chest pain
• Fluorosis
• Discolored teeth
• Nausea
