Minerals Flashcards
Calcium sources
Animal:daily products, sardines with bones
Plants: calcium-set tofu, broccoli, black-eyed peas, whole grain flour
Calcium-set tofu: calcium sulfate is sued during the setting process
Calcium dietary role
Major structural component of bone, along with phosphate and collagen
Also important in mediating intracellular signals
Certain clotting factors depend on calcium in serum
Regulates excitation of neurons and all types of muscle
Clotting factors II, V, IX and X depend on extracellular calcium for activation
Intracellular calcium is tightly regulated, and acts as a second messenger within cells.
Calcium plays key roles in excitation -contraction coupling and synaptic transmission
Calcium phosphate gives hardness to bone - 99% calcium found in bone
Calcium deficiency
rickets in children, osteoporosis in adults
Calcium toxicity
Constipation, interference with magnesium and iron absorption, kidney stones
High blood levels of most of the major minerals don’t result from dietar overconsumption - usually due to renal or fluid balance disorders
Calcium RDA
Young children: 200-500mg Chidren: 800 mg Teens: 1300mg adults: 1000 mg >1200 mg RDA of calcium varies widely over the lifespan reflecting: peak bone mass development and Osteoporosis protection
Phosphorus role
Major component of bone
Important in acid-base balance (buffer)
Important constituent of DNA, RNA, phospholipids, energy carrying compounds, some proteins
Phosphorus is usually found as phosphate anion
Most prevalent anion inside the cell
chemical characteristics allow the phosphate groups of ATP to store energy for cellular metabolism
about 85% found in bone
Phosphorus source
Found in most foods, whether plant or animal
Deficiency and toxicity are rarely seen clinically
Phosphorus deficiency
Although deficiency is rare, symptoms include bone pain and muscular weakness
Phosphorus toxicity
Toxicity is also rare - an include calcification of soft tissues. Phosphate can be found as part of phytic acid - binds and removes calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium
Phosphorus RDA
DRI levels
RDA: 700 mg/day
Tolerable upper intake level 4000 mg/day
Magnesium
Similar to B-vitamins-used in wide variety of enzymes, essential for release of energy from energy-yielding nutrients
Affects the regulation of potassium, calcium, vitamin D
Essential in building proteins
Aids in relaxation of muscles during excitation-contraction coupling
holds calcium in enamel for maintenance of healthy teeth, mostly located in bones. Cofactor in energy metablism, as well as DNA & protein synthesis
Magnesium source
plentiul in most plants, including cereals, leafy green plants, beans
lower in highly processed foods
present in dairy products
Magnesium dificiency
Rare, since it is present in most plant foods
Symptoms include weakness, confusion, tetany, hallucinations and convulsions
Magnesium toxicity
Only seen with use of supplements symptoms include diarrhea, low blood pressure, nausea, acid-base disturbance
Magnesium RDA
RDA: 300-400 mg/day
Tolerale upper limit: 350 mg/day from supplements
Sodium role
Regulates balance of fluid between the inside and outside cells, as well as blood volume
Instrumental in electrical excitation, including action potential generation, muscle contraction, etc.
Also important for acide base balance
Sodium source
No known diet can result in a deficiency of sodium present in almost all foods
Key concern is processed foods that contain large amounts of sodium, such as processed meats, soups, and sauces
Sodium deficiency
Almost impossible to consume a diet low in sodium
Hyponatremia linked instead to fluid imbalances (extremes of dehydration or fluid resuscitation, excessive water intake)
Sodium toxicity
dietary sodium can increase blood pressure, edema, kidney disease or older than 50
Sodium is responsible for depolarization phase of action potential
With age, kidney funtion declines and blood pressure increases
Potassium, calcium and mangnesium consumption can help decrease blood pressure, in addition to sodium reduction
Sodium RDA
RDA: >70 years - 1200 mg/day
Adults - 1500 mg/day
Tolerable upper intake 2300 mg/day
Most North American diets provide over 30000 mg/day
potassium physiological role
Main cation within cells - like sodium important for regulating fluid balance and electrical events in excitable cells
Increasing potassium, magnesium and calcium intake helps transport excess sodium out of the body via kidneys
Potassium chloride tastes very similar to sodium chloride, allowing for substitution in the diet
Potassium mediates the repolarization phase of action potentials
It is closely regulated with sodium through the renin-angiotention-aldosterone hormone system
Potassium food source
Rich sources include fruits & vegetables
Dairy products, meats and whole grains are also good sources
Less potassium content in processed foods
Potassium toxicity
Although no tolerable upper intake level is set, extreme supplement use can result in serious heart problems, muscle weakness and vomiting (usually overdoses are vomited)
Potassium RDA
RDA: 4700 mg/day in adults Tolerable upper intake: none set Banana =422 mg Baked potato=844 mg ½ cup lima beans =486 mg Orange juice =496 mg Processing “breaks apart” cells, and results in potassium loss
Chloride physiological role
Major negative ion in extracellular fluid
Roles include regulation of fluid/pH balance as well as mediating electrical signals in the cell