Micronutrients (trace minerals) Flashcards
Iron is ingested and freed from food by what…?
Gastic HCL
Iron is stored as..?
Ferritin
Most of the body’s iron is found in two proteins; what are they and where are they found?
- Haemoglobin - red blood cells
- Myoglobin - muscle cells
Iron balance is primarily maintained through what function?
Absorption
(because difficult to excrete once in the body)
Iron in food occurs in two forms. What are they and what is the main source of each?
- Haem iron - animal products (better absorbed)
- Non-haem iron - plants and animal products
Where and how is iron absorbed?
Small intestines via transporter called ferroprotein; then transferrin protein carries iron in the blood
Three factors help enhance absorption of non-haem iron. What are they?
- MFP factor
- Vitamin C
- gastric acidity
What’s the role of hepcidin?
Help control amount of iron that’s absorbed from diet
What’s iron overload called?
Haemochromatosis
Sign/symptoms of low iron?
Low energy levels/fatigue, pale skin, weakness, headaches, impaired immunity, inability to regulate body temperature
Primary functions of iron
- part of haemoglobin which carries oxygen to blood
- part of myoglobin which make oxygen available for muscle contractions
What’s microcytic anaemia?
When red blood cells are smaller than usual because they don’t have enough haemoglobin
Ferrous iron and ferric iron - which is which
Ferrous = found in haem iron, used in the body
Ferrix iron = found in plants
Which micromineral is involved in more bodily functions than any other mineral?
Zinc
What is metallothionein?
A special binding protein (in the intestinal cells) that helps regulate zinc absorption
Good food sources of zinc
Animal products - oysters, steak, crab
Growth retardation, delayed sexual maturity, impaired immune function, hair loss, eye and skin lesions, loss of appetite are all deficiency symptoms of which mineral?
Zinc
Chief functions of zinc
- growth and development
- insulin synthesis (blood sugar regulation)
- enhances smell and taste
- immunity
Iodine is critical to what function in the body?
Thryoid function (helps regulate growth, development and metabolic rate)
What amino acid is needed for the synthesis of iodine?
Tyrosine
Iodine deficiency signs
- hypothyroidism
- goitre formation
Main functions of selenium?
Antioxidant
Regulates thyroid hormone
What are the 4 main antioxidant nutrients?
- selenium
- vitamin C
- vitamin E
- beta-carotene
Selenium deficiency is associated with what (broad) disease?
Heart disease
