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Cog 13 - Minerals
Cog 13 - Minerals
Minerals
are inorganic elements occurring in nature.
They are inorganic because they do not originate in animal or plant
life but rather from the earth’s crust.
Although minerals make up only a small portion of body tissues, they
are essential for growth and normal functioning of the body.
The body can make most of the things it needs from energy foods
and the amino acids in proteins but it cannot make vitamins and
minerals
Large number of elements are needed for the functioning of the body.
Some elements are needed at high concentrations, required more than
MINERAL SALTS
Examples of minerals are; Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium
and Chloride. Sodium and Potassium: They are important in cell, muscle
physiology, transmission of messages and other biological processes.
Functions:
Sodium maintains osmotic pressure of extra cellular fluid and ECF
balance.
It has a role , along with others, in the neuro muscular excitability
Sodium is exchanged with Hydrogen in renal tubules to acidify urine.
Functions cont’
Humans contain around 100 mgs of copper. Liver, brain, kidney and heart
are rich in copper.
Free copper is 4%, 96 % is bound to Ceruloplasmin in body.
Sources: cereals, legumes, raisins, nuts etc
Functions
Cofactor of enzymes like cytochrome oxidase, dopamine decarboxylase,
tyrosinase, Cyt.C oxidase and superoxide dismutase and monoamine
oxidases are dependant on copper. Tyrosyl oxidase is important for
collagen metabolism
Ceruloplasmin (serum ferroxidase) catalyses Fe++ to Fe+++, a pre
requisite for the incorporation of iron into transferrin.
Copper cont’
Ceruloplasmin promotes iron absorption. Copper
deficiency:
Causes anaemia.(Microcytic,normochromic anemia)
Failure of melanin formation because tyrosine oxidase
becomes inactive. Menke’s disease or Kinky hair syndrome
It is fatal sex linked recessive disorder in which there is
cerebral and cerebellar degeneration, connective tissue
abnormalities and kinky hair.
Magnesium
Functions
Role in enzyme action. It is a cofactor for peptidases,
ribonucleases, glycolytic enzymes etc.
Its action is similar to that of calcium in neuromuscular irritability.
High levels depress nerve conduction, low levels may cause Tetany.
Major part is found in bones. In teeth, it is present as dentin and
enamel.
Magnesium deficiency occurs rarely in man.
Fluorine
Sources
Vegetables, fruits obtained from sea shore, sea fish are rich
in iodine.
People who live on hills do not get iodine from diet.
They are prone to suffer from deficiency.
It is absorbed from small intestines and transported as
protein complex in plasma.
Zinc
Sources ;
liver, milk, fish, dairy products, cereals, legumes, pulses, oil
seeds, yeast and spinach etc. It is absorbed in duodenum and
ileum.
Absorption of Zinc from the intestine appear to be controlled
in a manner similar to Iron.
It is transported bound to a protein (α2-macroglobulin and
transferrin) It is excreted in urine and feces.
Zinc cont’
Diets rich in calcium, phosphates interfere with Zn
absorption.
RDA is 15-20mgs for adult, 3-15mgs for infants and
childrenIt is bound as complex of protein Metallothionein.
The sulfur groups of the protein chelate zinc.
The body does not store Zinc to any appreciable extent in
any organ, urinary excretion is fairly constant at 10
μmol/day.
Functions