Major Minerals

Major Minerals

Minerals
A. Major minerals
1. found in large quantities in the body
2. > 5 grams
B. Trace minerals
1. found in small quantities
C. They may bind with other substances and interact with other minerals, thus affection absorption. (They may be in a bound form because it is inorganic. The mineral may show high on tests, but not be available because it is in the bound form)
D. Inorganic elements


Major Minerals
I Sodium (Na+) (a cation, needs an anion to work)
A. Roles in the body:
1. maintains normal fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance
a. major extracellular electrolyte
2. assists in nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction
3. filtered out of the blood by the kidneys
B. Deficiency (hyponatremia)
1. sodium and water must by replaced after:
a. vomiting
b. diarrhea
c. heavy sweating
2. symptoms include:
a. muscle cramps
b. mental apathy
c. loss of appetite
C. Toxicity ( hypernatremia) and excessive intakes
1. edema
2. acute hypertension
3. prolonged high intake may contribute to chronic hypertension
D. Food sources
1. large amount in processed foods (approx 75% of sodium in the diet)
2. table salt (approx 15% added sodium in the diet)
3. may be present in surprisingly high amounts if chloride is removed
4. moderate amounts in meats, milks, breads, and vegetables (approx 10% of sodium in the diet)
E. Health Effects
1. sodium and hypertension:
a. salt restriction does help to lower bp
b. salt sensitivity is a term to describe individuals who respond to a high salt intake with high bp
c. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a diet plan that helps to lower bp
2. Sodium and bone loss (osteoporosis)
a. high sodium intake is associated with calcium excretion
II Chloride (Cl-) (anion)
A. Roles in the body
1. maintains normal fluid and electrolyte balance
2. part of hydrochloric acid found in the stomach
3. necessary for proper digestion
B. Deficiency
1. rare
2. losses can occur with vomiting, diarrhea or heavy sweating
C. Toxicity
1. dehydration due to water deficiency can concentrate Cl- to high levels
2. the toxicity symptom is vomiting
D. Sources
1. abundant in most foods
2. abundant in processed foods
III Potassium (K+)
A. Roles in the body
1. maintains normal fluid and electrolyte balance
a. major intracellular electrolyte
2. facilitates many reactions
3. supports cell integrity
4. assists in nerve impulse transmission and muscle contractions
5. maintains the heartbeat
B. Deficiency (hypokalemia)
1. symptoms:
a. muscular weakness
b. paralysis
c. confusion
d. increased bp
e. salt sensitivity
f. kidney stones
2. later signs include:
a. irregular heartbeats
b. muscle weakness
c. glucose intolerance
C. Toxicity (hyperkalemia)
1. results from supplements or overconsumption of potassium salts
2. can occur with certain diseases or treatments
3. symptoms include:
a. muscular weakness
b. vomiting
4. if given in a vein, K+ can stop the heart
D. Health effects
1. low K+ intakes increase bp
2. high K+ intakes prevent and correct hypertension when taken as food not supplements
IV Calcium (Ca+)
A. Most abundant mineral in the body
B. Most of Ca+ (99%) is found in the bones. (1 ½ lbs in body)
C. The remaining 1% is found in the blood and has many functions. Necessary for:
1. muscle contraction
2. nerve functioning
3. blood clotting
4. bp and immune defenses
D. Deficiency symptoms:
1. stunted growth in children
2. bone loss in adults
E. Toxicity
1. hypercalciuria (high urinary Ca+ levels)
2. kidney stones
F. Sources
1. milk and dairy products
2. small fish with bones, oysters
3. broccoli, chard
4. tofu, legumes
5. Ca+ fortified foods
G. Health effects
1. Ca+ and disease prevention:
a. may protect against hypertension
b. DASH diet that is rich in Ca+, Mg, and K+
c. may be protective relationship with blood cholesterol, diabetes, and colon cancer
2. Ca+ and obesity:
a. maintaining healthy body weight
b. Ca+ from dairy foods has better results than Ca+ from supplements
c. more research is needed to prove effective in weight loss
3. Ca+ and osteoporosis:
a. healthy people 2010 aims to reduce the proportion of adults with osteoporosis
b. men at lower risk than women b/c of hormonal changes
c. rapid bone loss happens in nonmenstruating women
d. medications can be used that inhibit bone loss
e. soy offers some protection
H. Osteoporosis:
1. prevention
a. genes my play a role
b. environment, also diet and Ca+
c. muscle strength and bone strength go together
d. heavy body weights and weight gains place a stress on bones and promote bone density
e. physical activity helps to prevent
2. risks
a. smokers
i. less dense bones
ii. damage can be reversed when smoking stops
b. alcohol abuse
i. enhances fluid excretion, thus increases Ca+ losses
ii. upsets hormonal balance for healthy bones
iii. slows bone formation
iv. stimulates bone breakdown
v. increases risks of falling
I. Absorption
1. factors that enhance absorption:
a. stomach acid
b. Vitamin D
c. Lactose
d. growth hormones
2. factors that inhibit absorption:
a. lack of stomach acid
b. Vit D deficiency
c. high phosphorus intake
d. high-fiber diet
e. phytates in seeds, nuts, and grains
f. oxalates in beet greens, rhubarb, and spinach (will precipitate to a kidney stone)
V Phosphorus (P)
A. Roles in the body
1. mineralization of bones and teeth
2. part of every cell
3. genetic material (DNA and RNA)
4. part of phospholipids
5. energy transfer (krebs cycle… the P in ATP)
6. maintain acid-base balance
B. Deficiency
1. weakness
2. bone pain
C. Toxicity
1. calcification of soft tissue
D. Sources
1. all animal sources: meat, fish, poultry, eggs
VI Magnesium (Mg)
A. Roles in the body
1. bone mineralization
2. building of protein
3. enzyme action
4. normal muscle contraction
5. nerve impulse transmission
6. maintenance of teeth by preventing dental caries
7. functioning of the immune system
8. blood clotting
B. Deficiency
1. rare
2. symptoms include:
a. weakness
b. confusion
c. convulsions in extreme cases
d. bizarre muscle movements of the eye and face
e. hallucinations
f. difficulty in swallowing
g. growth failure in children
3. develops from alcohol abuse, protein malnutrition, kidney disorders and prolonged vomiting and diarrhea (b/c its an electrolyte)
C. Toxicity
1. symptoms from non-food Mg are:
a. diarrhea
b. alkalosis
c. dehydration
D. Food sources
1. nuts and legumes (overwhelmingly our largest food source)
2. whole grains
3. dark green vegetables
4. seafood
5. chocolate and cocoa
6. hard water and some mineral waters
E. Health effects
1. Mg and hypertension
a. low Mg restricts walls of arteries and capillaries
b. protects against heart disease and hypertension