Vitamins,

Minerals,
and Water

By Jennifer Turley and Joan Thompson

© 2013 Cengage
 Presentation Overview
• Vitamins: Chemistry, functions & categories
• Minerals: Chemistry, functions & categories
• Water: Functions, intake & excretion
 The Vitamins
• Some vitamins are essential.
• Without an intake of, nutritional
deficiencies occur.
• Vitamins are organic
compounds.
• They contain the
element carbon.
• All vitamins are non-
caloric.
 The Vitamins
• All vitamins are needed in tiny
amounts for cell metabolism

• microgram (µg, mcg, ug) or

• milligram (mg) amounts

As compared to gram amounts for

carbohydrates, proteins and fats
 Functions of Vitamins
• In cell chemistry or metabolism.
• Vitamins & minerals can function as
specific cofactors for specific enzymes.
• Enzymes are protein based
molecules that catalyze chemical
reactions (drive metabolism).
• Many enzymes require a
partner called a cofactor or
coenzyme to function.
 Enzymes & Cofactors
in Metabolism

Examples:
The vitamin folate is a cofactor for the enzyme homocysteine transmethylase.
The mineral selenium is a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase.
Categories of Vitamins
Fat vs Water Soluble

Chemical structures are in appendix A

Categories of Vitamins
Fat vs Water Soluble
The Water Soluble Vitamins

Chemical structures are in appendix A

 Vitamins
• Other compounds have vitamin activity in
animals, but deficiencies have not been
shown in humans.
• The aforementioned vitamins are essential
in human nutrition.
 Minerals
• Some minerals are essential.
• Without an intake of, nutritional
deficiencies occur.
• All minerals are elements.
• All minerals are inorganic substances.
» this is because minerals are unique elements
and are not compounds containing carbon.
 Minerals
• All minerals are non-caloric
• All minerals are needed in tiny
amounts for cellular metabolism
and structure
– Microgram (µg)
– Milligram (mg) amounts
As compared to gram amounts for
carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
The Periodic Table of Elements
• Shows all the elements that are naturally
found in the earth.
• Each element has unique physical
properties such as melting point,
crystalline structure, boiling point, and
molecular weight.
• Some of the elements naturally found in
earth are essential for the human body
to function and are called minerals.
 Periodic Table of the Elements
Nutritional Application for Essential Minerals

Major Minerals: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na),
Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Sulfur (S)
Trace Minerals: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Iodine (I), Selenium (Se), Chromium (Cr),
Molybdenum (Mo), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Fluoride (F), Cobalt (Co).
 Functions of Minerals
• The majority of minerals in the human
body play a structural role.

• Structural such as calcium in bone

structure and as integral components of
proteins such as iron & hemoglobin or
iodine & thyroxin.
• Also as cofactors of
enzymes in metabolism.
 Water Follows Electrolytes
H+ H+
O- - Water & Body fluid regulation by the
electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium, Chloride
Na+ K+ Cl-

H+ H+ H+ H+ +
H+
O-- H+

+ H
O- - H+ H+ O- - H --
H+
H+

O- -

O- -
H+
O
O- -
K+

H+
O-- H+
H+ H+

--
H+ H+

H O
H+ O
O- -

+
Na+
O- -

-
-- H

H O-
+
H
+
H +
-

+
H + Cl
O- -

O- - +
H+

O-- H+
H+ H H+
H+
H+

+ O --
O--
H+

H+
H+
O-- H+

H+ H+

O- H+
O--H
+ H+

O--
O--
H+

H+
H+
H+
O--H
+
O- -

H+
H+
 pH Scale

Basic 14 Lye
13
Some 12 8
Death

minerals 11 Ammonia Alkalosis

10
help 9 Baking Soda

maintain
Pancreatic Juice
8
Blood
Neutral 7 Water
7.45 Normal
acid-base 6 Urine 7.35
5
balance 4
Coffee
Orange Juice
Acidosis
3 Vinegar
2 Lemon Juice 7 Death
Stomach Acid
1
Acidic 0 Battery Acid
 The Chemistry of Buffers
The bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system starts
with sodium bicarbonate dissociated in water:

+ -
When acid such as hydrochloric acid is added:
+ -
The sodium & chloride electrically balance each other:
+ -
 The Chemistry of Buffers

The bicarbonate combines with the hydrogen to yield

carbonic acid:

+ -

Being unstable, carbonic acid releases carbon dioxide,

which is expelled in the breath. Water remains.
 Categories of Minerals
• There are 17 minerals essential for proper
growth & function of the human body.
• Minerals are categorized as Major & Trace.
• The category is based on the amount of
mineral present in the human body.
 Major Minerals
• Found in the adult reference male body
in quantities greater than 5 grams.
• Bone: Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P),
Magnesium (Mg)
• Water: Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl),
Potassium (K)
• Lean Body Mass (LBM): Sulfur (S)
 Trace Minerals
• Found in the adult reference male body in
quantities less than or equal to 5 grams
• Include: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Iodine (I),
Selenium (Se), Chromium (Cr), Molybdenum
(Mo), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn),
Fluoride (F), and Cobalt (Co)
 Major
and
Trace
Minerals
 Trace
Minerals
need
>100
mg/day
 Other Minerals
• Other minerals are found in the
human body but are not recognized
as essential. For example:
» Nickel is a structural requirement for some
metalloenzymes.
» Boron has recently been shown to function in
calcium metabolism.
» Silicon, tin, vanadium and cadmium are
found in the human body but no metabolic
role has been identified.
 Water
• Non-Energy Yield: Water
provides 0 Calories/gram.  
• Functions: Water is the medium
for metabolism & nutrient
transport.
• It is the fluid of life.
• Without water intake, dysfunction
H20 to death will occur faster than the
Inorganic Compound
limitation of any other of the
essential nutrients in human
nutrition.
 Water:
Recommended Intake
• There is no “one-size-fits-all”
water intake recommend.
– Needs vary depending on activity &
environmental conditions.
• For water balance:
– Consume 1 ml water/Calorie
expended.
– This is not an optimal level of water
H20 intake.
Inorganic Compound
• DRI for water for those >19 years:
– Men: 3.7 L/day (approx. 15 cups)
– Women: 2.7 L/day (approx. 11 cups)
 Water: Excretion
• Most body waste is excreted
in the urine.
• Kidneys excrete more
efficiently into dilute urine.
• Drinking fluid promotes the
excretion of toxic metabolic
H20 waste products.
Inorganic Compound
• Strive to consume enough
fluids to produce clear urine
every few hours.
 Water
• Thirst mechanisms do not
provide motivation to drink until
an individual is 2% dehydrated.
• At this point, the function of the
cardiovascular system is
decreased.
H20 • Thus, individuals need to learn
Inorganic Compound
to drink when they are not
thirsty.
 Summary
• The Non-Caloric nutrients are vitamins,
minerals and water.
• Vitamins & minerals are micronutrients.
• Vitamins are categorized as fat & water
soluble.
• Minerals are categorized as major & trace.
• Water is the fluid of life.

References for this presentation are the same as

those for this topic found in module 1 of the textbook