Chapter 12: Minerals © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc What Are Minerals? Major minerals • Need to consume > 100 milligrams per day • At least grams of the mineral in the body • Calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulfur © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc What Are Minerals? Trace minerals • Need to consume > 20 milligrams per day • The body contains less than grams total • Iron, zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, iodide, manganese, molybdenum, and fluoride © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc The Minerals in Your Body Figure 12.1 Minerals Do not contain carbon Contain only atoms of the same element Are most often found • As individual ions • In organic compounds © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Minerals Remain intact during digestion Generally 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Mineral Bioavailability 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Mineral Participate as Cofactors Cofactor – substance that helps catalyze a reaction Minerals serve as cofactors in • Antioxidant systems • Energy production • Muscle contraction • Nerve transmission © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Quick Review Continued Mineral toxicity • Rare - Most people not ingest overly high amount from food - Body adjusts absorption and excretion • Occurs with ingestion of high doses of supplements © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc [...]... transmission © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Minerals Can Be Toxic If ingested in high amounts, minerals can be toxic; however, mineral toxicity is rare Toxicity...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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc Mineral Participate as Cofactors Cofactor – substance that helps catalyze a reaction Minerals serve as cofactors... abilities Toxicity not generally seen from excess dietary intake © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 numerous body functions - Bone and blood health - Fluid balance - Cofactors in energy production and muscle contraction - Nerve transmission © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc 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 © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc