Minerals Flashcards
what are minerals?
inorganic elements required as nutrients
what are the 2 kinds of minerals?
micro: trace minerals, only required in small amounts in the diet
macro: required in larger amounts in the diet
why do you have to be careful with minerals and diets?
the mineral composition of a diet (plant based) will vary greatly depending on the mineral composition of the soil the feedstuff was grown in
with minerals, which is more common: deficiency or toxicity?
deficiency
is calcium a macro or a micro mineral?
macro mineral
what are the 3 functions of calcium?
- second messenger
2, enzyme activation - bone mineralization
describe calcium’s function as a second messenger
the first message in intracellular signalling is something binding to a receptor, then calcium causes a second message resulting in an action (ex. muscle contraction)
describe calcium’s function in enzyme activation
calcium activates many factors in the clotting cascade
describe calcium’s function in bone mineralization
calcium is a major part of the mineral form of bone
what are the 2 signs of a calcium deficiency? what calcium function is this related to?
impaired nerve and muscle function; related to calcium’s role as a second messenger
is milk fever caused by a calcium deficiency?
no!! it is caused by impaired calcium mobilization, not deficiency
in what form is phosphorous found in the body?
phosphate
is phosphate a micro or macro mineral?
macro mineral
give 8 of the functions of phosphate (there’s a fuck ton)
- bone mineralization
- oxidative phosphorylation
- acid-base buffer
- DNA and RNA (phosphpdiester bonds)
- phospholipids
- signaling molecules
- reversible modification of proteins
- enzymatic reactions
in what ares are phosphorous deficiencies common?
in areas where the soil is also low in phosphorous
what is the disease caused by phosphorous deficiency called? describe
pica; animals seek out non-nutritious feeds trying to obtain minerals (like wood or bone)
describe the concept of a Ca:P ratio
each species has its own, usually about 2:1; if a feed has calcium but not phosphorous, phosphorous will be excreted and vice versa
what causes rickets?
a deficiency of Ca, P or vitamin D, or a combo of defiencies of these
what is the symptom of rickets?
spongy, poorly mineralized bone, will see bow-leggedness
what is rickets called in adults?
osteomalacia
is magnesium a macro or micro nutrient?
macro
what are the 5 functions of magnesium
- anion charge neutralization
- cellular energy metabolism: cofactor
- nucleic acid and protein synthesis: cofactor for transcription and translation
- second messenger
- ion channels
describe magnesium’s function in anion charge neutralization
ADP and ATP are charged, magnesium neutralizes
describe magnesium’s function in ion channels
the sodium/potassium ATPase pump requires magnesium
what are the symptoms of a magnesium deficiency?
- grass tetany
- convulsions
- muscle twitching
when is grass tetany a high risk and why?
for animals on low-magnesium pastures in the spring while grass is growing; this is because the growing grass is high in ammonia which binds the magnesium and makes it unavailable, causes Mg deficiency
whata re the 3 electrolyte minerals?
- sodium
- potassium
- chloride
are electrolytes micro or macro nutrients?
macro
describe the lumping of electrolytes and who is responsible for the most function
are lumped because they are very similar, but sodium is responsible for most of the known functions
whata re the 3 functions of electrolytes?
- nutrient transport (sodium dependent amino acid transporters and the sodium/potassium pump allows transport of most water-soluble vitamins)
- membrane potentials (all 3 do this)
- maintain extracellular fluid volume (also mainly sodium, when sodium is high things leave cells and enter blood stream so blood pressure is also high)