Minerals Flashcards
Lithium
-is not an essential nutrient
-used to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression
-helps mental disorders by increasing activity of chemical messengers in brain
-kidneys cannot distinguish between lithium and sodium
Boron
-6mg/ day increases testosterone
-bone growth and maintenance
-improves wound healing
-reduces levels of inflammatory bio markers
-raises levels of antioxidant enzymes
-boosts magnesium absorption
-improves brain electrical activity, cognitive function and short term memory in elders
Fluorine
-forms very strong bonds
-fluoride helps in mineralization of bones and teeth and helps protect teeth from tooth decay
-large amounts of fluoride can cause fluorosis
-high doses of fluoride lead to neurodevelopmental problems
-when added to water it reduces anxiety and increases serotonin
-low fluoride leads to reduced fertility and anemic conditions
-fluoride improves iron utilization in diets lacking iron
-it is used in drug design due to slower metabolism which allows for lower concentration of drug to be used
Sodium
-regulation of osmotic pressure
-acid/base balance regulation
-absorption of sugars and amino acids
-aids cell permeability
-mostly excreted by the kidneys
-reabsorption is controlled be aldosterone
-aids proper nerve impulse transmission
-drugs are made into sodium salts to increase solubility and stability for longer shelf life
Magnesium
-cofactor for more than 600 enzymes such as glycolysis, cell respiration and transmembrane transport of other cations
-DNA polymerase has 2 binding sites for magnesium and cannot function without it
Aluminum
-naturally sourced from water and food additives
-sourced by contamination from utensils and containers
-most unprocessed foods, except for herbs and teas, contain low amounts
-used in pharmaceutical industry
-alum powder is used as an antiseptic
-alum is found in medicine, deodorant, baking powder
-high doses lead to tau tangles in brain
-no relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer’s
-poorly absorbed through the intestines
Silicon
-plays an essential role in bone formation and maintenance
-higher intake lead to increased bone density
-dietary sources include whole grains, cereal, beer and green beans
-silica is a common food additive but has limited absorption in intestines
Phosphorous
-major role in structural formation of DNA and RNA
-phosphate used to transport energy with ATP
-main structural component of cellular membrane
-limiting reagent for life
-excess in environment leads to algal blooms and eutrophication of lakes and rivers
Chlorine
-major role in regulating food balance, protein digestion in stomach and carbon dioxide removal in lungs
-completely absorbed from GI tract
-natural foods have a small concentration of NaCl
-processed foods have a high concentration of NaCl
-hydrochloride salts make amines less reactive and more water soluble
Potassium
-naturally radioactive
-lowers blood pressure
-majorly sourced from bananas, oranges, potatoes, beans
Hypokalemia = potassium deficiency leads to muscle weakness, cardiac arrest and diabetic coma
Hyperkalemia = excess potassium leads to renal failure and severe dehydration
Calcium
-present in the skeleton, blood and other tissues
-phytic acid has a strong affinity to calcium, iron and zinc which inhibits the absorption in the small intestine
-spinach, rhubarb, and buckwheat are high in oxalic acid which lead to kidney stones
Iron
-most common nutrient deficiency
-involved in oxygen transport, cognitive development, intellectual performance, immune function and temperature regulation
-Fe2+ has higher solubility than Fe3+ making it more bioavailable in dietary supplements
-absorption can be limited by chelators which are chemicals that bind to the iron making it unavailable for absorption
Copper
-cofactor for 9 enzymes involved in ATP production, iron metabolism and antioxidants functions
-absorption limitation from foods
Chromium
-trace element correlated with insulin function in type 2 diabetes
-Cr6+ is a toxic byproduct of stainless steel
-chromium picolinate is a supplement marketed to enhance energy production and recovery
Molybdenum
-cofactor in redox reactions
-involved in metabolism of sulfur containing amino acids and detoxifying drugs in the liver
-toxicity is rare as it is rapidly excreted by urine
Manganese
-cofactor for many enzymes
-role in immune response, blood clotting, tendon strength and hemostasis with vitamin K
-deficiency in humans is rare
-toxicity can occur for people with jobs in welding and mining
Zinc
- daily intake is required as there is no storage in the body
-plays a role in immune function, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, cell division and development during pregnancy
-since in only has 1 charge it participates in chelation
-thought to reduce severity of colds by stopping rhinovirus from binding and replicating in nasal mucosa
-deficiency leads to oily skin and erectile dysfunction
Selenium
-low concentrations are needed for homeostasis, acts as an antioxidant in selenoproteins preventing cancer
-high concentrations are pro-oxidizing in tumours and can be used as chemotherapeutic
-necessary for cellulose function
-form stable bonds to carbon that are analogous to organosulfur compounds
-important for reproduction, thyroid gland function, DNA production amd protecting body from free radicals
Iodine
-essential for thyroid hormones T3 and T4 that : regulate growth, reproduction and energy metabolism and influence the immune system and neural development
-deficiency leads to reduction of T3 and T4 which enlarges the thyroid tissue and cause simple goiter
-T3 and T4 can be given orally to treat hyperthyroidism due to being absorbed well by stomach
