Essential Elements

• Iron


  Functions as electron carrier
• Electron carrier molecules


  • FMN
  • NADH
  • FADH2
• Cytochromes


  Proteins + heme (copper/iron)
• Iron-Sulfur Centers (Fe-S)


  2 or 4 iron atoms bound to sulfur
• Hemoglobin


  Transports oxygen in the blood
• Myoglobin


  Stores oxygen in muscle
• Absorption of Iron


  1. Intestinal mucosa (where food passed through)

  2. Cells of the small intestine (iron is absorbed)

  3. Going to bloodstream/ systemic circulation
• Heme iron


  Easier to absorb
• Nonheme iron (ferric iron)


  Not easy to absorb; needs to be reduced to a ferrous iron
• Duodenal cytochrome B


  Reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron
• DMT1


  Transports ferrous iron
• Ferroportin 1


  Transporter that allows iron to enter the bloodstream
• Hephestin


  Oxidises ferrous iron to ferric iron before going to plasma transferrin
• Plasma transferrin


  Transports iron to erythroid cells to produce red blood cells
• Taking iron supplements with vitamin C or orange juice


  Can increase the absorption of nonheme iron
• Ascorbic acid


  Can chelate or coordinate with iron to be easily absorbed
• Ferrous Sulfate heptahydrate


  a.k.a. green vitriol, DOC for iron-deficiency anemia
• Ferrous Gluconate


  Equivalent to 35 mg elemental iron per 300 mg dose
• Ferrous Sulfate


  Equivalent to 60 mg elemental iron per 300 mg dose
• Ferrous Fumarate


  Equivalent to 60 mg elemental iron per 200 mg dose
• Copper


  Supplements may not be necessary, 2mg/kg in humans, average daily intake: 2-5mg/day
• Copper-albumin complex


  Form of copper in the blood
• Erythrocuprein


  Form of copper in red blood cells
• Ceruloplasmin


  Form of copper in the liver
• Copper


  • Facilitates iron absorption
  • Stimulates production of heme/globin
  • Involved in mobilization of stored iron
• Cytochrome oxidase


  Important enzyme in the electron transport chain in ATP production by cellular respiration
• Copper

  Associated with the formation of aortic elastin
• Tyrosinase


  Component of Copper
• Menke's disease


  Genetic disorder which leads to copper deficiency (lack of transport protein for copper)
• Wilson's disease


  Copper excess
• Copper Sulfate


  a.k.a. blue vitriol, essential component of Fehling's solution and Benedict's solution, used in testing urine (up to 0.1% glucose)
• Cupric oxide, copper gluconate, copper amino acid chelates


  In supplements
• Zinc


  Widely distributed in the body, associated with certain metalloenzymes, involved in the synthesis, storage, and release of insulin, stabilizes the secondary and tertiary structures of RNA, associated with protein synthesis
• Phytic acid


  Anti-nutrient that decreases zinc absorption
• Parakeratosis


  Thickened, scaly, inflamed skin, caused by zinc deficiency
• Zinc oxide


  Mild antiseptic and astringent, used in Calamine Lotion, treatment of eczema, impetigo, ringworm, varicose ulcers, pruritus, psoriasis
• Zinc sulfate


  Topical astringent, in supplements
• Zinc acetate, zinc gluconate


  In supplements
• Manganese


  From the latin word "magnes"= magnet (not really magnetic), compound used to make colorless glass, used to make stainless steel, aka mineral chameleon, associated with RNA, hence plays a role in protein synthesis, fatty acid metabolism, cholesterol synthesis
• Chronic manganism


  Poisoning similar to Parkinson's disease (bradykinesia, shuffling gait, asthenia/weakness, dystonia)