Micronutrients Flashcards
Define trace minerals
Mineral for which daily intake is
What are the trace minerals?
- iron
- Iodine
- Zinc
- Copper
- Selenium
- Molybdenum
- Chromium
- Fluoride
- Manganese
Are trace minerals more or less bioavailable than macronutrients?
Less; they are susceptible to interference w/absorption
Iron - what does it do and how much of it is there?
- Total body iron = 5g
- 50% as hemoglobn iron
- storage Fe: 300-1500 mg
Function:
- O2 transport in blood and muscle
- Electron transport
- Enzymes for activation of O2
- Enzymes, dopamine synthesis, CNS myelination
Where do we get iron from?
Food:
Heme: meats/flesh, liver (all milks = poor source)
Non-heme: plant sources and Fe-fortified foods
Factors affecting absorption/bioavailability
Heme Fe»_space; non-heme
Insoluble complexes in plats inhibit absorption : phytate, oxalate, polyphenols, phosphate, fiber
Phytic acid
Binds cations in gut luman
Storage form of phosphorous in plants
Humans don’t have phytases
Serves fxn as anti-oxidant
High in grains & legumes
Maize/wheat > legumes > rice
Likely the major cause of dietary deficiencies
more on absorption of iron
Oxidation state:
Fe3+ –> Fe2+ better absorbed;
- ascorbic acid reduces Fe, forms complex
Host factors
- deficiency –> inc absorption
- inflammation –> dec. absorption
Key factors: form of Fe & host status for absorption
Iron Homeostasis
- Absorption = main point of regulation
- deficiency –> dec. hepcidin –> inc. uptake
- inflammation –> inc. hepcididn –> dec. uptake - Loss: bleeding, cell sloughing
- Stores: ferritin - liver, bone marrow, spleen
- Transferrin: transports Fe in body; no “free Fe”
At risk populations for iron
- BF infant (at birth use Fe in RBCs, but in 4-6 months, have to make their own RBCs so they need Fe from diet)
- Premies
- Young children
- Adolescent girls
- Pregnant women
- Blood loss
- Obese & s/p bariatric surgery