Minerals

Question 1

What are minerals?

Answer 1

Inorganic compounds that provide essential structural and biochemical functions

Question 2

How are minerals divided and why?

Answer 2

Divided into macro and micro minerals based on quantities required.

Question 3

How are fish unique when it comes to minerals?

Answer 3

the water may provide a considerable amount of some minerals and osmoregulatory functions may influence mineral requirements

Question 4

What are the macro-minerals?

Answer 4

Calcium
phosphorus
magnesium
sodium
potassium
chloride
sulfur

Question 5

What are the trace minerals?

Answer 5

Copper
cobalt
chromium
iodine
iron
manganese
molybdenum
selenium
zinc

Question 6

Calcium

Answer 6

Functions: major component in bone and scales, interacts nutritionally with vitamin D and phosphorus

Deficiency signs: decreased bone mineralization, reduced growth in low-ca water

not required if sufficient quantities found in the water

Question 7

Phosphorus

Answer 7

Functions: structural component of bone, and then distributed throughout the body for phospholipids, nucleotides, physiological buffers.

Deficiency signs: reduced bone growth and weight gain
P is generally limited in water.

Question 8

Magnesium

Answer 8

Function: structural component of bone, enzyme activator and coenzyme for kinases enolases and mutases, prevents hyperirritability of smooth muscle,

Deficiency signs: reduced mg in blood and bone, reduced weight gain, muscle flaccidity, renal calcinosis

typically found in most feed stuffs so supplementation is not required

Question 9

Sodium

Answer 9

major cation in extracellular fluid, sodium pump affects cell permeability to glucose and other nutrients

Functions: maintain osmotic balance, maintain acid/base balance, control passage of nutrient in cells

Deficiency signs: reduced weight gain

Question 10

Potassium

Answer 10

required for normal heart function

deficiency signs: reduced weight gain, muscle weakness

Question 11

Chloride

Answer 11

major extracellular anion, gastric jusice formation, chloride shift during transport of CO2

Deficiency signs: reduced weight gain in terrestrial animals

requirement about 1/2 of Na

Question 12

Iron

Answer 12

Component of respiratory pigment in finfish, component of electron transport system

deficiency signs: anemia

Question 13

Copper

Answer 13

Function: component of respiratory pigment of shellfish (hemocyanin), component of metalloenzymes, neccessary for proper iron metabolism

deficiency signs: anemia-iron accumulation in the bones

imporant in shellfish

Question 14

Iodine

Answer 14

Functions: component of thyroid hormones which control energy metabolism, growth and other endocrine glands

deficiency signs: hypertrophy of the thyroid gland

Question 15

Zinc

Answer 15

Functions: cofactor of several enzyme systems, functions in protein synthesis, epithelial tissue formation

Deficiency signs: reduced growth; bone and serum Zn

If high levels of plant material in diet, than zinc can be tied up phytic acid so supplementation necessary

Question 16

Selenium

Answer 16

Functions: component of enzymes and other proteins, biological antioxidant

Deficiency signs:reduced growth, nutritonal muscular dystrophy

Question 17

Manganese

Answer 17

Function: formation of organic matrix of bone, cofactor of several enzyme systems

deficiency signs: bone disorders

Question 18

Cobalt

Answer 18

Function: component of vitamin B12

Deficiency sign: anemia

Question 19

Chromium

Answer 19

Function: involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cofactor with insulin

deficiency sign: impaired glucose metabolism

Question 20

Molybdenum

Answer 20

Functions: component of enzyme xanthine oxidase and involved in purine metabolism

Deficiency signs: none reported in fish