Minerals

• Classification of minerals


  • Major minerals (>100 mg/day)
  • Trace minerals (<100 mg/day)
• Macrominerals


  Major minerals (>100 mg/day)
• Microminerals


  Trace minerals (<100 mg/day)
• Minerals constitute about 4-5% of total body weight
• Functions of minerals


  • Establishing resting membrane potentials and generating action potentials
  • Adding mechanical strength to bones and teeth
  • Combining with organic molecules
  • Acting as coenzymes, buffers, or regulator of osmotic pressure
• Minerals are inorganic nutrients that are essential for normal metabolic functions
• Daily Values


  Appear on food labels to help consumers plan a healthful diet
• Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs)


  Based on the 1968 RDAs for certain vitamins and minerals
• Daily Reference Values (DRVs)


  Set for total fat, saturated fate, cholesterol, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, and protein
• Not all possible Daily Values are required to be listed on food labels
• The Daily Values appearing on food labels are based on a 2000-kcal reference diet, which approximates the weight maintenance requirements of postmenopausal women, women who exercise moderately, teenage girls, and sedentary men
• On large food labels, additional information is listed based in a daily intake of 2500 kcal, which is adequate for young men
• Calcium


  The most abundant mineral in the body, is found in some foods, added to others, present in some medicines (such as antacids), and available as a dietary supplement
• Calcium


  • Bone and teeth formation; blood clotting; muscle activity; and nerve function
• Phosphorus


  A mineral that naturally occurs in many foods and is also available as a supplement. It plays multiple roles in the body
• Phosphorus


  • Bone and teeth formation; important in energy transfer (ATP); component of nucleic acids
• Magnesium


  A cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation
• Magnesium


  • Coenzyme constituent; bone formation; muscle and nerve function
• Sulfur


  Sulfur is essential to all living things. It is taken up as sulfate from the soil (or seawater) by plants and algae. It is used to make two of the essential amino acids needed to make proteins
• Sulfur


  • Component of hormones, several vitamins, and proteins
• Sodium


  Sodium is the most common alkali metal and the sixth most abundant element on Earth, comprising 2.8 percent of Earth's crust
• Sodium


  • Osmotic pressure regulation; nerve and muscle function
• Potassium


  An essential mineral that is needed by all tissues in the body. It is sometimes referred to as an electrolyte because it carries a small electrical charge that activates various cell and nerve functions
• Potassium


  • Muscle and nerve function
• Chlorine


  A naturally occurring halogen element. It is used in many industrial processes, as well as in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and water purification
• Chlorine


  • Blood acid-base balance; hydrochloric acid production in stomach
• Iron


  A mineral that is naturally present in many foods, added to some food products, and available as a dietary supplement
• Iron


  • Component of hemoglobin; ATP production in electron-transport system
• Zinc


  A mineral that is naturally present in many foods, added to some food products, and available as a dietary supplement
• Zinc


  • Component of several enzymes; carbon dioxide transport and metabolism; necessary for protein metabolism
• Copper


  Is a reddish metal with a face-centered cubic crystalline structure. It is malleable, ductile, and an extremely good conductor of both heat and electricity
• Copper


  • Hemoglobin and melanin production; electron transport system
• Iodine


  Is a mineral found in some foods. The body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. These hormones control the body's metabolism and many other important functions
• Iodine


  • Thyroid hormone production; maintenance and normal metabolic rate
• Fluorine


  It is the lightest halogen and exists at standard conditions as a highly toxic, pale yellow diatomic gas. Fluoride is a trace mineral naturally found in small amounts in a variety of foods
• Fluorine


  • Provides extra strength in teeth; prevents dental caries
• Manganese


  A trace mineral that is present in tiny amounts in the body. It is found mostly in bones, the liver, kidneys, and pancreas
• Manganese


  • Hemoglobin synthesis; growth; activation of several enzymes
• Selenium


  Selenium is a mineral found in the soil. Selenium naturally appears in water and some foods. While people only need a very small amount, selenium plays a key role in their metabolism
• Selenium


  • Component of many enzymes