Nutrition Mt 2 Major Minerals

Front 1

What are minerals?

Back 1

minerals are inorganic elements (do not contain carbon)

They differ from all other nutrients in that they cannot be synthesized or broken down by any known form of life

Front 2

Functions of minerals:

Back 2

1. provide rigidity and strength to the structural components of body (bones, muscle, teeth).
2. activators of enzymes and hormones
3. maintenance of water and acid/base balance
4. muscle functioning
5. nerve functioning
6. blood clotting

Front 3

Bioavailability of minerals:

Back 3

bioavailability = how much of the nutrient is present in the food is how much will be available to the body
-influenced by the form in which minerals are consumed
-absorption can be inhibited by certain components in food
-minerals compete for absorption in the body (the level of one mineral in the body may affect the required level of another)

Front 4

what defines a "major mineral"

Back 4

it is found in the body in quantities above 5g.

Front 5

what are the 7 major minerals?

Back 5

1. calcium
2. phosphorus
3. potassium
4. sulfate
5. sodium
6. chloride
7. magnesium

Front 6

Calcium and phosphorus' association:

Back 6

calcium and phosphorus are often associated with one another because they tend to be present together in food and in the body.
-99% of calcium in the body is found in bone
-80% of phosphorus in the body is found in bone

*thus bone provides a ready supply (Reservoir) of Ca and P if the blood levels are low.

Front 7

Role of Calcium

Back 7

*calcium and phosphorus are essential to bone formation

-salts formed from calcium and phosphorus crystalize on collagen to form hydroxyapatite which adds the rigidity to bone.
-adding fluoride will create fluorapatite further hardens the teeth.

other functions:
-muscle contraction (including heartbeat)
-blood clotting
-nerve impulse transmission
-hormone secretion
-enzyme activity

Front 8

Most abundant mineral in the body?

Back 8

Calcium (phosphorus is the second most abundant)

Front 9

Calcium's role in disease prevention (3 benefits of calcium)

Back 9

1. low intakes of calcium are associated with colon and rectal cancer

2. calcium from milk products may play a role in maintaining a healthy body weight

3. calcium helps control blood pressure

Front 10

RDA for calcium

Back 10

adolescents = 1,300 mg
adults = 1,000 mg
elderly (esp. women) = 1,200 mg

Front 11

peak bone mass

Back 11

the maximum amt of bone that one acquires in one’s lifetime.. directly proportional to how bone mass is supported during adolescence (need optimal amt of calcium)

greatest amt of bone you’ll have is in your early 30s.. although the fastest growth of bone is in adolescence.

Front 12

Factors that aid calcium absorption and factors that inhibit calcium absorption:

Back 12

factors that aid:
1. ingestion with a meal
2. vitamin D
3. lactose

Factors that inhibit:
1. vitamin D deficiency
2. high fiber diet
3. high protein intake
4. phytates and oxalates

Front 13

How does calcium absorption fluctuate?

Back 13

as the need for calcium increases, the absorption increases:

more calcium is needed for growth...
infants and children absorb ~60% of calcium
pregnant women absorb ~50% of calcium
(and the loss of calcium from the kidneys is reduced in these instances)

an average adult absorbs 25% of calcium

(Absorption adjustments to calcium intake take time; increased absorption cannot fully compensate for reduced calcium intake)

Front 14

bone density and aging:

Back 14

no matter what, by about age 30 you are no longer adding calcium to your bones (you have reached peak bone mass...

you can slow down the process of lost density by eating a calcium rich diet and participating in weight-bearing physical activity.

Front 15

Role of Phosphorus

Back 15

1. ≈85% is combined with calcium in the crystals of the bone and teeth

2. Phosphorous salts are buffers that help maintain the acid-base balance of cellular fluids

3. Part of DNA and RNA

4. Phosphorus compounds carry, store, and release energy in the metabolism of energy nutrients

5. Phosphorous compounds assist many enzymes and vitamins extracting the energy from nutrients

6. Forms part of phospholipids

7. Present in some proteins

Front 16

symptoms of low phosphorus in the blood:

Back 16

1. decreased appetite
2. anemia
3. muscle weakness
4. bone pain
5. increased susceptibility to infections

*deficiencies are not common (Phosphorus is wide-spread in food)

*animal protein is the best source of phosphorus

Front 17

Calcium, Phosphorus, and vit. D deficiency:

Back 17

deficiency of any 3 will cause abnormalities of the bones and teeth

osteoporosis:
-excessive mobilization of minerals from bones
-mineral content of bones is normal
-the mass of bones is reduced

Front 18

Distribution of magnesium in the body:

Back 18

55% in bones
27% in muscles
18% in all cells

Front 19

Role of Magnesium

Back 19

*Critical to many cell functions

1. Assists in the functioning of more than 300 enzymes

2. Release and use of energy from energy-yielding nutrients

3. Directly affects the metabolism of:
-Potassium
-Calcium
-Vitamin D

4. regulates heart rhythm and body temperature

5. part of the protein making machinery

6. necessary for the release of energy

7. promotes relaxation of muscles (calcium promotes the contraction)

8. promotes resistance to tooth decay by holding calcium in tooth enamel

9. essential for DNA and protein synthesis

Front 20

RDA for magnesium:

Back 20

males: 400 mg/d
females:310 mg/d

Front 21

Where do we find magnesium

Back 21

because magnesium is part of chlorophyll, it is abundant in vegetables.

it is also found in legumes, whole grains, and hard water

it is easily washed and peeled away during processing

Front 22

Magnesium deficiency

Back 22

it is quite rare (it is common in both animal and plant sources of food)
in addition, the kidneys can limit excretion when intake is low

deficiency develops in alcohol abuse and prolonged vomiting

symptoms:
-hallucinations that can be mistaken for mental illness or drunkenness
-Hyperirritability
-skin Lesions
-edema
-Ca deposition in Tissues

Front 23

benefits of drinking water high in magnesium:

Back 23

Those drinking water that provides adequate magnesium experience a lower incidence of sudden death from heart failure than other people

Magnesium deficiency may make the heart unable to stop spasms once they start

Front 24

Role of Sulfate:

Back 24

Required for the synthesis of many important sulfur-containing compounds:
-certain antioxidants
-thiamin
-sulfur-containing amino acids (methionine, cysteine and cystine)
^gives rigidity to skin, hair, and nails

Front 25

Glutathione

Back 25

Glutathione is the primary antioxidant in the body

It is synthesized via the sulfur containing amino acid, cysteine

Glutathione deficiency can be induced by protein-deficient diets that are also low in sulfur amino acids


Low glutathione levels in elderly subjects have been theorized to accelerate the aging process 


Low glutathione levels are seen in many chronic diseases, which could benefit from cysteine supplements or proteins rich in cysteine

Front 26

how do you meet sulfate requirements?

Back 26

there is no RDA set for sulfate... it is thoguht that if you meet your protein requirements, you will meet your sulfate requirements as well.

Front 27

Deficiencies of sulfate?

Back 27

there are no known deficiencies

Front 28

Toxicity of sulfate?

Back 28

From too much sulfate in water, either naturally occurring or from contamination

leads to:
-diarrhea
-colon damage

Front 29

dietary intake of sulfur from:

Back 29

corn, sunflower seeds, oats, chocolate, cashews, walnuts, almonds, and sesame seeds

Front 30

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe)

Back 30

Involved in numerous metabolic processes in the body that require sulfur 


Increasing levels of SAMe through supplementation may act as an effective antidepressant 


Used in treatment of osteoarthritis and alcoholic liver cirrhosis