Mineral Elements.

Question 1

What are mineral elements required for?

Answer 1

• Body building.
• Control of body processes e.g. transmission of nerve impulses.
• Essential parts of body fluids.

Question 2

What are the 8 mineral elements required in relatively large amounts?

Answer 2

• Calcium.
• Iron.
• Phosphorus.
• Potassium.
• Sulphur.
• Chlorine.
• Sodium.
• Magnesium.

Question 3

What are the 9 mineral elements required in relatively small amounts and are known as TRACE ELEMENTS?

Answer 3

• Iodine.
• Copper.
• Manganese.
• Fluoride.
• Cobalt.
• Nickel.
• Zinc.
• Chromium.
• Selenium.

Question 4

What are the four functions of calcium?

Answer 4

• Required for maintenance of bones and teeth once formed.
• Required for the correct functioning of muscles and nerves.
• Required for part of the complex mechanism which causes blood to clot after an injury.
• With phosphorus, it combines to make calcium phosphate which is the chief material that gives hardness and strength to bones and teeth.

Question 5

What are five sources of calcium?

Answer 5

• Milk.
• Cheese.
• Bones of canned fish.
• In green vegetables, it is found in cellulose which the body cannot digest so affects calcium absorption.
• Found in whole grain cereals but there it may combine with a substance called phytic acid which makes it unavailable to the body.

Question 6

What are the three requirements of calcium in terms of:
If one does not have enough calcium what does this lead to?

Answer 6

Not enough can lead to osteoporosis which means that the bones become weak and brittle and break easily. Women are most at risk.

Question 7

What are the three requirements of calcium in terms of:
Why do we have a constant need for calcium?

Answer 7

We have a constant need for calcium to keep our bones strong.

Question 8

What are the three requirements of calcium in terms of:
- Its absorption and phosphorus.

Answer 8

The absorption of calcium and phosphorous and the mineralization of bones and teeth is controlled by vitamin D. The body must have a sufficient supply of all three in order to function properly.

Question 9

What can a deficiency of calcium in children cause?

Answer 9

• Bones and teeth are not mineralized properly and are improperly formed.
• Leg bones may bend under the weight of the body as in rickets.

Question 10

What can a deficiency of calcium in adults cause?

Answer 10

Strength of bones and teeth are not maintained possibly resulting in adult rickets - osteomalacia.

Question 11

What can a deficiency of calcium caused to muscles and nerves?

Answer 11

Muscles and nerves do not function correctly - may result in tetany - muscles contract rigidly and the patient has convulsions.

Question 12

Why can too much calcium dangerous?

Answer 12

Too much calcium is dangerous as it can be deposited in organs such as the kidneys and this can be fatal.

Question 13

What are the two functions of phosphorus?

Answer 13

• Works in conjunction with calcium and therefore has the same functions.
• It is essential for the production of energy in the body.

Question 14

What are two sources of phosphorus?

Answer 14

• Phosphorous is present as phosphate in all plant and animal cells and is therefore present in all-natural food.
• It forms part of many proteins and is often used as an additive in manufactured food.

Question 15

What is the requirement of phosphorus?

Answer 15

A normal diet will supply sufficient phosphorous for all age groups.

Question 16

What is the function of iron?

Answer 16

• Iron is a component of hemoglobin, the substance which gives red blood cells their colour. Hemoglobin is required to transport oxygen around the body to every cell, for the production of energy and the maintenance of all cell functions.

Question 17

Give five sources of iron.

Answer 17

Liver, kidney, corned beef, cocoa, plain chocolate, watercress, whole grain cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables.

Question 18

What are the three absorptions of iron requirements in regard to:
- What form is it easier to absorb in?
- What acid makes it difficult to absorb from plant food and soya protein?
- What significantly increase iron absorption?

Answer 18

• Iron in its ferrous form is easier to absorb than in its ferric form.
• Iron from plant foods e.g. grains and leafy vegetables and soya protein may be made more difficult to absorb by the presence of phytic acid.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) significantly increases iron absorption, especially from plants.

Question 19

What are the two requirements of iron in the body?

Answer 19

• Red blood cells die after about 6 weeks and must be replaced. This process is continually occurring in the body.
• As the blood cells are removed from the body some of the iron is lost and must be replaced by a daily food supply.

Question 20

Where is the absorption of iron controlled, is a big or small percentage of the iron in the diet absorbed, and to ensure that iron is properly absorbed food containing iron should be eaten with what?

Answer 20

Absorption of iron is controlled in the small intestine. Normally only a small percentage of the iron in the diet is absorbed but if more is required e.g. in pregnancy then more is absorbed to meet these demands. To ensure that iron is properly absorbed food containing iron should be eaten with foods containing vitamin C.

Question 21

What are the iron requirements for babies?

Answer 21

Babies are born with a supply of iron to last them up to 4 months, as milk contains very little iron. After this time they need to be given iron in the form of solid food.

Question 22

What are the iron requirements for pregnant women?

Answer 22

Pregnant women - iron requirements increase in pregnancy to allow for the development of the growing baby’s blood supply. The body usually adapts to meet these demands but some may require iron tablets.

Question 23

What are the iron requirements for girls and women?

Answer 23

Girls and women - the regular menstrual loss of blood means that iron is lost and must be replaced.

Question 24

What are the protein requirements for injuries and operations?

Answer 24

Injuries and operations - resulting in loss of blood, and the iron must be replaced.

Question 25

What is the basic deficiency of iron?

Answer 25

Hemoglobin is not made properly, so insufficient oxygen is carried around the body. This leads to fatigue, weakness, and a pale complexion.

Question 26

What is the severe deficiency of iron?

Answer 26

Severe cases lead to iron deficiency anemia. - General health is affected as cells cannot function properly.

Question 27

What are the two functions of sodium, chloride, and potassium in the body?

Answer 27

• These are all required to maintain the correct concentration of body fluids.
• Chloride is also required for the production of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice of the stomach.

Question 28

Give five sources of sodium, chloride, and potassium.

Answer 28

All three are usually eaten as sodium chloride or potassium chloride in food.
They are also added as salt to foods: yeast extract, bacon, cheese, fish

Question 29

What is sodium in the form of and what is it added to?

Answer 29

Sodium in the form of sodium chloride (salt) is added to many manufactured foods, especially savoury snacks.

Question 30

What does sodium for part of?

Answer 30

It also forms part of monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a flavour enhancer.

Question 31

What are the two requirements of sodium, chloride, and potassium?

Answer 31

• Everyone needs these elements.
• Sodium chloride is especially necessary for hot climates or for workers in heavy industry where they are lost in sweat.

Question 32

When is a salt-restricted diet necessary?

Answer 32

Salt-restricted diet - for certain medical reasons - heart, kidney, or liver disease, high blood pressure.

Question 33

What is the function of fluoride?

Answer 33

Is important in strengthening teeth against decay, protecting the enamel coating of the teeth and making them resistant to attack by the acid produced in the mouth.

Question 34

What are three sources of fluoride?

Answer 34

Fluoride is found naturally in tea, seawater fish, and in some parts of the country’s water supplies.

Question 35

What are the three requirements of fluoride in regard to:
- The strengthening effects.
- Quantities required.
- Effects on teeth.

Answer 35

• The strengthening effect that fluoride has on the teeth is only of value when the teeth are developing in children.
• Only minute quantities are required for this.
• Too much fluoride can be harmful as it causes the teeth to become mottled, with dark brown spots.

Question 36

What are the two functions of iodine?

Answer 36

• Required to make the hormone thyroxine which is produced by the thyroid gland in the neck.
• Thyroxine along with other hormones, helps to control the rate of metabolism in the
  body.

Question 37

Give four sources of iodine.

Answer 37

Widely distributed in foods but is found in good supply in seafood, milk, green vegetables especially spinach, fresh water, and iodized salt.

Question 38

How much iodine is required every day?

Answer 38

A minute quantity is required every day.

Question 39

The deficiency disease of iron is goitre? What are the signs and symptoms of goitre?

Answer 39

A deficiency leads to a reduction in the amount of thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland. As a result, the metabolism slows down, and the gland swells up. This swelling can be seen in the neck and is called a goitre.