Minerals Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main functions of minerals?

A
  1. constituents of skeleton structures
  2. maintenance of osmotic pressure
  3. regulation of acid base balance
  4. components of enzymes
  5. activators of enzymes
  6. components of biological units
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2
Q

What are the main functions of minerals?

A
  1. constituents of skeleton structures
  2. maintenance of osmotic pressure
  3. regulation of acid base balance
  4. components of enzymes
  5. activators of enzymes
  6. components of biological units
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3
Q

What are the macro-minerals?

A

> 5g in body

Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Cl, S

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4
Q

Which minerals are concentrated by plants and why?

A

Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mb

- mineral by products from industry and manufacturing

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5
Q

Which minerals are concentrated by plants and why?

A

Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mb

- mineral by products from industry and manufacturing

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6
Q

What minerals are involved in bone metabolism

A

The most important role of minerals in the horse’s diet is the development in mineralized tissues

Bone in metabolically active tissue and requires:

  • supply of Ca and P
  • other minerals - F, Mg, Mn, Zn
  • osteoblasts, osteoclasts
  • calcitonin, parathyroid hormons
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7
Q

What are the micro- minerals

A
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8
Q

Which minerals are concentrated by plants and why?

A

Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mb

- mineral by products from industry and manufacturing

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9
Q

Relationship between dietary levels and absorptive efficiency

A

absorptive efficiency tends to decrease when intake increases

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10
Q

What minerals are involved in bone metabolism

A

The most important role of minerals in the horse’s diet is the development in mineralized tissues

Bone in metabolically active tissue and requires:

  • supply of Ca and P
  • other minerals - F, Mg, Mn, Zn
  • osteoblasts, osteoclasts
  • calcitonin, parathyroid hormons
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11
Q

What happens to bone resorption during times of physiological stress?

A

The skeleton maintains structural integrity and regulates calcium homeostasis –> bone can be resorbed and remodelled

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12
Q

What are the functions of calcium?

A

Structural function - bone crystals = hydroxyapatite
- 99% in bone/teeth
= 1% found in soft tissues where it is involved in muscular activity, blood clotting, hormone secretion and enzyme activation
- Ca:P in bone = 2:1

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13
Q

What is the result of calcium deficiency?

A

Although horses are good at recognizing some deficiencies (Na) they are not good at recognizing Ca

  • rickets
  • osteomalacia (in mature animals)
  • nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
  • lactating mares –> decrease milk production (but Ca and P remain the same)
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14
Q

What hormone regulates calcium concentrations?

A

PTH

  • maintains calcium homeostasis in blood
  • mediated by vitamin D (calcitriol)
  • PTH + calcitriol act on the bone and kidneys to maintain plasma Ca levels

low Ca –> parathyroid –> calcitriol –> Ca binding protein –> Ca reabsorption + absorption

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15
Q

Where does Ca absorption occur?

A

small intestine

- passive and facilitated diffusion

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16
Q

Ca absorption efficiency varies with:

A
  • age (70% in young, 50% in mature)
  • diet (low Ca increases absorption; high P binds Ca)
  • stage of training
  • stages of gestation/lactation
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17
Q

What is the result of calcium deficiency?

A

Although horses are good at recognizing some deficiencies (Na) they are not good at recognizing Ca

  • rickets
  • osteomalacia (in mature animals)
  • nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
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18
Q

What is rickets?

A
  • failure of vascular invasion and mineralization in the area of calcification of the physis
  • bone pain, stiff gait, swelling in the area of the metaphyses, difficulty rising, bowed limbs, pathologic fractures
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19
Q

What is nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism?

A

AKA Miller’s Disease, Bran Disease or Big Head Syndrome

  • results from excess P
  • lameness
  • enlarged facial bone –> fibrous connective tissue invades area where bone was resorbed
  • P binds to Ca –> Ca from bone is resorbed to compensate for deficiency
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20
Q

Calcium toxicity

A
  • high dietary Ca levels interfere with absorption of other minerals (e.g. P, Mg, Mn, Zn)
  • brittle bones
  • horses can handle high calcium levels (up to 7:1)
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21
Q

What are calcium requirements dependent on?

A
  • vitamin D supply
  • phosphorus supply
  • rate of growth
  • physiological state
  • presence of oxalic acid and physics acid
22
Q

P deficiency

A

Similar to Ca and vitamin D

- occurs when P is in an unavailable form (phytic acid or phytate)

23
Q

Sources of Ca

A
  • animal sources (e.g. meat meal)
  • milk
  • grains low
  • roughages borderline
  • concentrates and complete rations should be balanced and supply = 2:1
24
Q

What are the functions of P?

A
  • major constituent of bone (14-17% skeleton)
  • required for many energy transfer reactions
  • synthesis of phospholipids, nucleic acids, phospho-proteins
25
Q

When is P very important?

A

reproduction, gestation, lactation

26
Q

P deficiency

A

Similar to Ca and vitamin D

- occurs when P is in an unavailable form (phytic acid or phytate)

27
Q

Ca levels and exercise

A

Exercise –> change in extracellular concentrations

- Increased Ca can help

28
Q

Functions of Na

A

Found in mainly extracellular fluid and small amounts found in skeleton

  • acid base balance
  • osmotic pressure
  • absorption of CHO and AA
29
Q

What is the result of sodium chloride deficiency?

A
  • poor growth (decreased feed intake)
  • reduction in utilization of CHO and protein
  • PICA appetite (horses will eat ANYTHING to obtain salt; very sensitive to salt)
30
Q

Where are Na and Cl absorbed?

A

small intestine

  • excreted via sweat & urine
  • 0.5-1% diet
31
Q

benefits to providing salt block

A
  • easy to provide
  • stimulates salivation
  • no danger for over-consumption
  • horses may have difficulty obtaining enough
  • must provide adequate water (stimulates drinking)
32
Q

How does the body compensate when dietary sodium is low?

A
  • decrease in urine & sweat production –> could compromise performance an water balance)
  • can resorbs from kidneys or see it (lick themselves, saddle pads, eat dirt)
33
Q

What is the result of sodium chloride deficiency?

A
  • poor growth (decreased feed intake)
  • reduction in utilization of CHO and protein
  • PICA appetite (horses will eat ANYTHING to obtain salt; very sensitive to salt)
34
Q

Where can a lot of iodine be found?

A

75% in the thyroid

- component of thyroxine which helps control basal metabolic rate

35
Q

What is hyperthyroidism?

A

reduced thyroxine –> drop in BMR –> weight gain

36
Q

What does a deficiency in iodine lead to?

A

A decrease in the production of thyroxine

  • foals born with goiter
  • foals can be stillborn, or weak & hairless
  • when mares are grazing on iodine deficient soil –> should be given iodized salt blocks
37
Q

Iodine toxicity

A

Horses are very sensitive (can tolerate levels of 5 ppm vs. other species 200-600 ppm)

38
Q

Why is it important to consider Se levels

A

soils low in Se –> white muscle disease

soils high in Se –> can result in toxicity = alkali disease or blind staggers

39
Q

Deficiency of iron?

A
  • decrease in # of RBCs

- may occur in horses that are heavily parasitized due to bleeding after worming

40
Q

Why do horses have higher requirements for iron than adults?

A
  • milk is a poor source of iron

- provide creep feeds that allow foal access but prevents mares

41
Q

What is the function of selenium?

A
  • closely related to that of vitamin E and other antioxidants
42
Q

Why is it important to consider Se levels

A

soils low in Se –> white muscle disease

soils high in Se –> can result in toxicity = alkali disease or blind staggers

43
Q

Functions of zinc

A
  • found in hair, skin, bone
  • acts as enzyme activator or is a component of an enzyme (specifically enzymes involved in keratinization)
  • Zn is a cofactor for over 200 reactions
  • often works in combination with B-carotene
44
Q

Zinc deficiency

A

poor skin, hair

45
Q

Functions of Mg

A
  • constituent of bone and teeth
  • enzyme activator
  • depends on levels of Ca, P, Zn in diet (BALANCE minerals)
  • increased Ca and P will decrease digestibility of Mg
46
Q

Mg deficiencies

A
  • nervous system disorders, hyper irritability, tetany (often precipitated by stress)
  • grass tetany = rare but can occur on fast growing pasture, in lactating mares or horses in transit or fasting (high stress)
  • nervousness, tremors, staggering, convulsions, death
    Mg is calming
47
Q

Functions of copper

A
  • involved in synthesis of Hb
  • involved in bone formation
  • oxidation-reduction enzyme systems
48
Q

Deficiency of Cu

A

anemia (Hb) or thin weak bones

49
Q

Cu toxicity

A

not seen in horses

50
Q

Which minerals are significantly involved in bone maintenance, structure, or formation?

A

Ca, P, Cu, Zn, Mg

51
Q

Why could a deficiency in salt result in poor growth or performance?

A

Na+ is needed for the absorption of carbohydrates and amino acids, as Na+ dependent transporters in the small intestine are responsible for absorbing these nutrients.