Transcript ******* 1

Dietary minerals (also known as mineral nutrients)
are the chemical elements required by living
organisms, present in common organic
molecules.
 Important Macro or major minerals include
the seven major minerals calcium, chlorine,
magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and
sulfur.
 Important "trace" or minor minerals,
necessary for mammalian life, include:- cobalt,
copper, iodine, iron, molybdenum, selenium, and
zinc.
Macro or major minerals:
1. Calcium : Quantity needed, RDA/mg =
1300 mg
Importance : Calcium is a mineral that is
essential for many aspects of health,
including the health of bones and teeth, and
a normal heart rhythm. This mineral is also
required for muscle contractions and
relaxation, nerve and hormone function,
blood pressure regulation, and supports
synthesis and function of blood cells.
High dietary calcium intake is
necessary for infants, children and
adolescents in order to promote bone
growth and formation. Pregnant
women also have higher calcium needs,
because it is required for the normal
development of fetal bones. In addition,
women who have reached menopause
need to ensure an adequate amount of
calcium intake to reduce the risk of
osteoporosis.
Dietary sources: milk and other dairy products; green,
leafy vegetables; seafood; nuts; seeds , dried beans,
eggs, canned fish with bones (salmon, sardines),
thyme, cinnamon.
Insufficiency (hypocalcaemia):- calcium deficiency
can lead to serious complications, such as
osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure),
cardiac arrhythmias. chest pain, seizure, difficulty
breathing, and unusual change in alertness or
consciousness.
Symptoms of hypocalcaemia :Muscle cramps , Numbness, Paresthesia (burning or
prickling sensations) , Petechiae (bleeding under the
skin forming tiny red dots), Poor appetite, Purpura
(large bruised areas)
Excess( hypercalcemia :increase blood level of
calcium ) :
Hypercalcemia may be caused by:
•Overactive parathyroid glands.
• Cancer. Lung cancer and breast cancer,
•Supplements. Taking excessive amounts of
calcium or vitamin D supplements over time
can raise calcium levels in your blood above
normal.
•Dehydration. A common cause of mild or
transient hypercalcemia is dehydration,
because when there is less fluid in your blood,
calcium concentrations rise.
2. Chlorine : Quantity needed RDA/mg
= 2300 mg
This is present in the body as the
chloride ion. It is present in
extracellular fluid as sodium chloride.
It is found within the cells as
potassium chloride. Chloride ions are
also known to be present in the red
blood cells. It is an essential part of
the gastric juice.
Importance: It is important for the
regulation of osmotic pressure. Chloride
help to maintain the water balance and
pH balances. They activate salivary
amylase. Chloride provides the acid
medium for the activation of the gastric
enzymes and digestion in the stomach, is
needed for production of hydrochloric
acid in the stomach and in cellular pump
functions
Dietary sources: Table salt (sodium chloride) is
the main dietary source, tomatoes, lettuce,
celery, and olives.
Insufficiency: hypochloremia too little chloride
in the body can occur when your body loses a
lot of fluids. This may be due to excessive
sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea. Medicines such
as diuretics can also cause low chloride levels.
Excess (hyperchloremia )Too much chloride
from salted foods can: Increase blood pressure
and cause a buildup of fluid in people
with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, or
kidney.
3. Magnesium: Quantity needed RDA/mg =
420 mg
Magnesium is a critical co-factor in more
than 300 enzymatic reactions in the human
body.
Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually
every organ system of the body. With regard
to skeletal muscle, one may experience
twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle
soreness, including back aches, neck pain,
tension,
headaches
and
jaw
joint
dysfunction.
Symptoms of Magnesium deficiency involving:1. Impaired contraction of smooth muscles include
constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps;
difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially
provoked by eating sugar; photophobia,
2. The central nervous system is markedly affected.
Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and
restlessness,
3. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the
peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling,
and other abnormal sensations,
4. Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system
include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, angina due to
spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure
and mitral valve prolapsed .
Dietary sources:whole grains, raw nuts, seeds and
vegetables, the green color of green
vegetables is due to chlorophyll, which is a
molecule that contains magnesium, spinach,
chard, sea vegetables, tomatoes, beans,
ginger, cumin, cloves
magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia ) :
Hypomagnesaemia is an electrolyte
imbalance and is indicated by a low level of
magnesium in the blood. The normal adult
value for magnesium is 1.5-2.5 mEq /L
causes of hypomagnesaemia.
•Gastrointestinal disorders: Prolonged diarrhea, Crohn's
disease, malabsorption syndromes, celiac disease, surgical
removal of a portion of the intestine, and
intestinal inflammation due to radiation may all lead to
magnesium depletion.
•Renal
disorders
(magnesium
wasting): Diabetes
mellitus and long-term use of certain diuretics, Chronic
alcoholism may result in increased urinary loss of
magnesium
•Age: elderly people have relatively low dietary intakes
of magnesium . Intestinal magnesium absorption tends to
decrease with age and urinary magnesium excretion tends
to increase with age;
(hypotension).
Excess:
hypermagnesaemia:excess
magnesium have been observed with intakes
of
various
magnesium
salts
(i.e., supplemental magnesium). The initial
symptom
of
excess
magnesium
supplementation is diarrhea and symptoms of
magnesium toxicity have occurred in people
with impaired kidney function taking
moderate doses of magnesium-containing
laxatives or antacids. Elevated serum levels of
magnesium (hypermagnesaemia) may result
in a fall in blood pressure
4. Phosphorus: Quantity needed RDA/mg =
700 mg-1gm
Importance:
Phosphorus is one mineral that performs a
number of important functions.
1. It combines with calcium to form a
relatively insoluble compound calcium
phosphate, which gives strength and rigidity
to bones and teeth. Around half of all the
bones in the body are made up of
phosphate.
2. It Helps the Body Create Energy
phosphorus is responsible for creating
some of the energy that use every day.
3. It also assists the body in
synthesizing
proteins,
fats
and
carbohydrates.
4. it regulates the fluid levels in the
body.
5. It Helps the Body Absorb Vitamin B 6.
Essential for red blood cells and
platelets
Dietary sources:- Phosphorus is
widely distributed in both plant
and animal foods. Diet rich in
protein and calcium provide
sufficient phosphorus. Eggs, milk,
meat, poultry, fish and flour are
excellent sources of phosphorus.
Whole grain cereals and flour
provide phosphorus in good
amount, Vegetables and fruits as a
whole are in phosphorus content.
Insufficiency: hypophosphatemia:- A deficiency of this
element is very rare in human being because diets
having sufficient cereals are seldom inadequate in
this nutrient. except in diseases that affect
absorption, such as diabetes or Crohn’s disease. In
children, phosphorus deficiency affects normal bone
and teeth development.
The symptoms of hypophosphatemia include:
Anemia, Bruising and bleeding, Slurred speech,
Confusion, Irritability, Leg and arm numbness and
tingling, Muscular weakness, Tremors and spasms,
Chest pain, Quickened breathing, Anorexia and
vomiting, Risk for bone fracture, Seizures and
comas (in severe cases)
Excess:hyperphosphatemia:Hyperphosphatemia
may
be
described as high levels of inorganic
phosphate in the blood. The normal
range for phosphorous is 2.5-4.5
mg/dl.
the most common cause of increased
phosphate levels is the kidney's
inability to get rid of phosphate.
Hyperphosphatemia is also seen in people
who have
1. Excessive dietary intake of phosphate
(also from laxatives or enemas)
2. Severe infections can cause increased
phosphate levels
3. prolonged exercise, which causes muscle
damage. Certain athletes and distance
runners
may
get
this,
called
rhabdomyolysis
4.
Kidney
failure
can
cause
hyperphosphatemia
The symptoms of
hyperphosphatemia, although often
asymptomatic, include:
Blurred vision or conjunctivitis,
Irregular heart rate, Muscle spasm,
followed by numbness and pain,
Muscle weakness, Numbness and
tingling
around
mouth
and
fingertips, Anorexia, Nausea and
vomiting
5.
Potassium: Quantity needed RDA/mg = 4700
mg
Importance: Potassium is a very significant
body mineral, important to both cellular and
electrical function. It is one of the main blood
minerals called "electrolytes" and is essential
for
•it regulates the water balance and the acidbase balance in the blood and tissues.
Potassium enters the cell more readily than
does sodium and instigates the brief sodiumpotassium exchange across the cell membranes.
•In the nerve cells, this sodium-potassium
flux generates the electrical potential that
aids the conduction of nerve impulses.
•preventing the swelling of cells. If
sodium is not pumped out, water
accumulates within the cell causing it to
swell and ultimately burst.
•Potassium is very important in cellular
biochemical reactions and energy
metabolism;
•it participates in the synthesis of
protein from amino acids in the cell.
•Potassium
also
functions
in
carbohydrate metabolism; it is active in
glycogen and glucose metabolism,
converting glucose to glycogen that can
be stored in the liver for future energy.
•Potassium is important for normal
growth and for building muscle.
Dietary sources:Potassium is found in a wide range of foods.
Many fruits and vegetables are high in potassium
and low in sodium and help prevent
hypertension.
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, parsley,
and lettuce, as well as broccoli, peas, tomatoes,
and potatoes, especially the skins, all have
significant levels of potassium.
Fruits that contain this mineral include oranges
and other citrus fruits, bananas, apples,
avocados, raisins, and apricots, particularly
dried.
Whole grains, wheat germ, seeds,
and nuts are high-potassium foods.
Fish such as, salmon, sardines, and
cod are rich in potassium, and many
meat foods contain even more
potassium than sodium
Legumes, potato skin, tomatoes,
bananas, lentils, dry beans, whole
grains, soybeans, spinach, chard,
sweet potato, turmeric
Insufficiency: hypokalemia:- Deficiency of
potassium is much more common, especially
with aging or chronic disease. Some common
problems that have been associated with low
potassium levels include:
•hypertension, congestive heart failure,
cardiac arrhythmia, fatigue, and depression
•Many factors reduce body levels of
potassium. Diarrhea, vomiting, and other
gastrointestinal problems may rapidly reduce
potassium.
•Diabetes and renal disease may cause low as
well as high potassium levels.
•Several drugs can cause hypokalemia diuretic therapy is of most concern; longterm use of laxatives, aspirin, digitalis, and
cortisone may also deplete potassium.
•Heat waves and profuse sweating can cause
potassium loss and lead to dehydration, with
potassium leaving the cells along with
sodium and being lost in the urine.
•People who consume excess sodium can lose
extra urinary potassium, and people who eat
lots of sugar also may become low in
potassium.
Early symptoms
include muscle weakness, slow reflexes,
and dry skin or acne; these initial problems
may progress to nervous disorders,
insomnia, slow or irregular heartbeat, and
loss of gastrointestinal tone. Low
potassium may impair glucose metabolism
and lead to elevated blood sugar.
Excess: hyperkalemia :
may occur in decrease in renal function.
Major infection, gastrointestinal bleeding,
and rapid protein breakdown
6. Sodium:- Quantity mineral, RDA/ (mg) =
1500 mg
Importance:
1. It ensures a proper fluid and electrolyte or
pH balance in our body, together with
chlorine and potassium.
2. Sodium helps our body retaining the body’s
water and PH.
3. It enables our cell walls to draw in
nutrients.
4. It plays a role in nerve function and muscle
contraction. Sodium works in close association
with chlorine and potassium.
5. Sodium also plays a special role in
controlling the heartbeat
6. is a systemic electrolyte and is
essential in co-regulating ATP with
potassium.
The kidneys are responsible for
controlling sodium concentrations and
retain sodium when your levels are low
and excrete sodium in the urine when
levels are high.
Dietary sources:Table salt (sodium chloride, the main source), sea
vegetables, milk, and spinach
Insufficiency:- hyponatremia :Sodium deficiency results in muscle spasms,
cramps, headache, irritability, restlessness,
nausea and fatigue. More serious signs of
hyponatremia include confusion, hallucinations,
decreased consciousness and coma Poor appetite
and dehydration, but the main sign is fatigue.
Excess: hypernatremia :High levels of sodium in the body are associated
with high blood pressure and hypertension.
7.Sulfur :Sulfur is a naturally occurring element that
has several benefits on your health. Sulfur is a
macro mineral that you will find in all the
cells of the body. It plays an important part of
many biochemical reaction like:1. the synthesis of protein and enzyme
reactions.
2. It also plays an important part in the
protection of joints.
3.it maintains the balance of oxygen in the
body and keeps skin, hair and nails healthy.
4.it plays a rather important role in producing
collagen, a type of protein found in connective
tissue, cell structure and artery walls, keratin
giving strength to hair, skin and nails.
5. It is present in insulin, the essential
hormone that promotes the utilization of
sugar derived from carbohydrates for fuel in
muscle and fat cells. The insulin molecule
consists of two amino acid chains connected to
each other by sulfur bridges, without which
the insulin cannot perform its biological
activity
Food sources
Sulfur is normally found in protein foods, such as
dairy, eggs, beef, poultry and seafood. garlic, onion,
lettuce, cabbage, Nuts
Symptoms associated with sulfur deficiency
Acne, Scar tissue - wrinkles - damaged skin - lung
dysfunction - diabetes - sore joints and muscles Arthritis - ulcers - migraine headaches - allergic
reactions - Candida albacans - infections - chronic
fatigue - high cholesterol - Brittle Nails- Brittle Hair Memory Loss- Rashes -Slow Wound Healing
Side effects associated with excess :
Shortness of breath (feelings of lack of oxygen) headaches - thirst -anxiety(especially before sleeping).