MINERALS

- simple inorganic compounds that are non-caloric & remain as ash when a food or organic compounds is completely burnt. Classification:

a. Macrominerals or major minerals

b. Microminerals or trace minerals

Functions:

1. Structural –they are components of essential body compounds and is essential to the growth of body structures

2. Regulatory –physiological processes for normal functioning of tissues or body fluids

Maintenance of acid-base balance

Catalyst of metabolic reactions

Regulator of muscle contractility

Transmitter of nerve impulses

MACROMINERALS

Note: ↓ or ↑ in blood levels of these minerals does not occur in normal individuals after excessive ingestion, but patients with underlying conditions are greatly affected even in

small intakes.

Mineral Role / Function Dietary source Deficiency Excess

Sodium

RDA: min. of 500

mg/day; max. 2,400

mg/day

-maintain fluid balance

-involved in nerve transmission & neurological

function

-for muscle contraction

-helps in the maintenance of acid-base balance in

conjunction with chloride

-processed

foods

-table salt

-seafood

-canned goods

Hyponatremia

s/s: N/V, H/A, diarrhea,

muscle cramps

confusion

disorientation

Hypernatremia

s/s: edema

hypertension

seizures

Prolonged excessive Na

intake may contribute to

HTN

Chloride

AI: 750 mg/day

-maintain F & E, acid-base balance

-help maintain gastric acidity as it is part of

HCl

-usually found

in foods

together with

Na

FTT/Failure to Thrive -

infants

s/s: weakness, lethargy

loss of appetite

metabolic alkalosis

causes: diarrhea, vomiting,

profuse sweating

(excess levels are not

usually seen unless there is

an underlying disease

condition)

Potassium

RDA: 2000mg/day

-important in nerve transmission & muscle

contraction

-helps maintain acid-base balance

-for cell integrity

-affects many aspects of homeostasis, including a

steady heartbeat

-richest source

–all fresh foods

Hypokalemia

causes: dehydration, diabetic

acidosis, prolonged

vomiting, diarrhea, use of

drugs that promote K

excretion (diuretics, steroids,

laxatives)

s/s: muscular weakness

arrythmias

Hyperkalemia

s/s: muscle twitching

cramps

↑ motility of GI

arrhythmia

Sulfur

-acid-base balance maintenance and liver function

-maintains protein structure

-activates enzymes to maintain their activity

-participates in detoxification

-protein-rich

foods

-fish,

poultry, meats

hereditary defect in tubular

reabsorption of cysteine →

excessive excretion in the

urine → cystinuria

-↑ S –repeated produc’n of

cysteine in kidney →

cysteine kidney stone

Calcium

RDA:

Adults(19-50y/o)

-1000mg/day

(51y/o & over)

-1500 mg/day

Pregnant/Lactating

-(+) 600mg/day

-a constituent of bones & teeth

-necessary for nerve conduction & muscle

contraction

-involved in coagulation

-activation of some enzyme reactions

-activates the protein calmodulin (messenger that

tells other proteins what to do)

-has a role in disease prevention

-½ of RDA –

kuhol, saluyot,

dilis, carabao’s

milk, hipon,

talangka,

sardines

-⅓ of RDA –

cheese,

seaweeds,

dried fish,

malunggay

Hypocalcemia

s/s: Calcium tetany

dx -(+)Chvostek sign

(+)Trousseau sign

Osteoporosis

Retarded growth and

development among

children

Hypercalcemia

s/s: calcium rigor

formation of kidney

stones

constipation

Phosphorus

RDA: 700mg/day

-assists in energy metabolism

-many enzymes & B vitamins become active only

when a phosphate is attached

-foods rich in

calcium and

protein are the

Hypophosphatemia

Causes: osteomalacia or

rickets, chronic use of

excess levels is associated

with low calcium & the

client may exhibit tetany

-help transport other lipids in the blood

ex. phospholipid

-as part of structures example is phosphoproteins

-for pH regulation

best sources of

phosphorus

-processed

foods

aluminium, hydroxide gels symptoms

Magnesium

RDA:

Males(19-31y/o)

-400-420mg/day

Females(19-31y/o)

-310-320mg/day

-also involved in conduction of nerve impulses,

muscle contraction & blood clotting

-helps prevent dental caries by holding calcium in

tooth enamel

-coenzyme in energy metabolism

-supports the normal functioning of the immune

system

-it influences the secretion of thyroxin and the

maintenance of normal BMR

-green leafy

vegetables

-nuts

-legumes

Hypomagnesemia

Causes: alcohol abuse,

protein malnutrition

kidney disorder

prolonged vomiting

& diarrhea

use of diuretics

In severe magnesium

deficiency

s/s: tetany similar to the

calcium tetany

impairment of the

CNS

Hypertension

Hypermagnesemia

s/s: hypotension,

decreased tendon

reflexes

arrhythmia

MICROMINERALS

Minerals Role / Functions Dietary source Deficiency Excess

Iron

RDA:Adult male:8

mg / day

Adultfemale:18mg/

day(19-50y/o);

8mg/day(50y/o &↑)

Pregnant: 30mg/day

- carrier of oxygen

- for haemoglobin formation

- an active component of tissue enzymes

involved in the conversion of beta-

carotene to vitamin A

- for antibody production

- for collagen synthesis

- meat, fish,

poultry

- whole grains, green

leafy vegetables,

legumes

Iron Deficiency –caused by

insufficient intake,

malabsorption, lack of HCl &

excessive blood loss

Iron Deficiency Anemia

-microcytic hypochromic

s/s: H/A, weakness, fatigue,

apathy, pallor, spoon-

shaped nails

poor resistance to cold

temperature

Hemochromatosis

-iron overload

Hemosiderosis

-large deposits of the

Fe storage protein

hemosiderin in the

liver and other tissues

Fe poisoning

s/s: N/V, diarrhea,

rapid heart beat

dizziness

confusion

Heart disease, cancer

Iodine

RDA: 150µg for

adults

-important component of the thyroid hormone

that regulates body temperature, metabolic

rate, reproduction, growth, blood cell

production, nerve and muscle function and

more

-seafoods –oysters,

shrimps, seaweeds,

salt water fishes

-iodized salt

Cretinism

s/s:mental & physical

retardation

Simple Goiter

s/s: slowing down of

metabolism

weight gain, cold

intolerance

hypotension, bradycardia,

constipation

Thyrotoxicosis

-upper level 1000µg

Congenital Goiter

Copper

RDA: 1.5 – 3mg

-cofactor in Hgb formation

-aids in the transport of iron to bone marrow

for the formation of red blood cells

-participates in energy production

-serves as constituent of several enzymes

-organ meats

-seeds, nuts, legumes,

whole grains

-human milk is a good

source but cow’s

milk is not

Menke’s disease –intestinal

cells absorbs Cu but can not

release it into the circulation

s/s: anemia, impairs bone &

nervous tissue dev’t

Wilson’s disease –Cu

accumulate in the liver

kidneys, brain

s/s: N/V, diarrhea

abdominal cramps

Zinc

RDA:

Male -15mg/day

Female -12mg/day

-supports the work of numerous enzymes

-it is needed to produce the active form of

vit.A in visual pigments & the retinol-

binding protein that transports vit.A

-it is essential to normal taste perception,

wound healing

-helps make parts of the genetic materials

DNA & RNA

-stabilizes cell membranes, helping to

strengthen their defense against free

radicals

-also assists in immune function and in

growth & development

-participates in the synthesis, storage and

release of the hormone insulin in the

pancreas

-for the development of male reproductive

functions and spermatogenesis,

specifically the formation of testosterone

-lean meat, fish, eggs

and dairy products

-wheat germ and

legumes

-delayed growth, hypogonadism,

decreased appetite & taste

acuity, delayed immune

function, delayed wound

healing, night blindness,

keratinisation problems, acne-

like rash

-N/V, abdominal cramps,

diarrhea, fever

-renal failure with toxic

levels

Selenium

RDA: 55 µg/day

-part of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase

-sparer of vitamin E

-constituent of the enzyme that converts the

thyroid hormone to its active form

-vegetables & grains

-meats & other animal

products

Keshan disease– condition

causing abnormalities in the

heart muscles

Selenium toxicity

s/s: fatigue, N/V

diarrhea, loss of

hair & nails

skin lesion

Manganese

RDA:

Male -2-3mg/day

Female -1.8mg/day

cofactor in several enzymes involved in:

-glucose, protein & fat metabolism

-assist in urea synthesis

-prevention of damage by free radicals

-wheat bran, legumes

nuts, cereals,

green leafy

vegetables

-coffee & tea

-no documented deficiency nor

s/s of a deficiency

-CNS damage

(apathy, H/A, speech

disturbance)

-muscle cramps, anorexia

Fluoride

RDA:

Male -3.8mg/day

Female -3.1mg/day

-makes bones stronger and the teeth more

resistant to decay

-flouridated water

-tea, seafood

Osteoporosis

Tooth decay, dental caries

Dental Fluorosis

-mottled teeth, H/A

Skeletal Fluorosis

Chromium

RDA:

Male -35µg/day

Female -25µg/day

-glucose and lipid metabolism

-helps maintain glucose homeostasis by

enhancing the activity of the hormone

insulin

-legumes, cereals,

organ meats,

vegetable oils,

whole grains

Diabetes-like condition

-metallic taste in the

mouth

Molybdenum

RDA:

75 - 250µg/day

-a constituent of enzymes and is thought to

play a role in metabolism

-legumes, grains, milk

liver, cereals

-no known deficiency

Hyperurecemia

gout-like symptoms

References: Understanding Nutrition by Whitney and Rolfes

Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition by Grodner, Long and De Young

Nutrition and Diet Therapy by Ruth Roth

Prepared by: M’ Bubbles☺