Minerals & Calcium Flashcards
4 main functions of minerals
1) Structural: component of teeth, bones
2) Cofactors for enzymes
3) Constituents of essential components in the body (Fe in HB, I in Thyroxine, Co in Vit. B12, S in methionine and biotin, Mo in Xantine oxidase)
4) Constituents of body fluids like blood, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid.
Minerals help maintain
osmotic pressure
normal blood ph
involved in transmission of nerve impulses
all animals are subject to mineral deficiencies that may be caused by these 4 causes:
1) sub-optimal amount in feed
2) imbalance of another mineral which decreases absorption
3) any condition which increases rate of passage through the gut or body scours
4) a metabolic antagonist which causes the animal to require more dietary mineral to overcome antagonism
Mineral excretion routes:
some almost entirely in feces some in urine some both routes some in sweat (Na+) Fe++ may be lost due to blood loss
a process that will bind a mineral to varying degrees. Generally has the effect of sequestering or isolating the mineral from interactions with other compounds
Chelation
Nutritional significance of chelators
may bind trace elements in diet and then release them at site where needed - prevents other interactions during digestion
how minerals are significant in terms of medical functions
remove certain isotopes or poisons from the body -> binds them, then the complex is excreted
Examples of natural and synthetic chelators
natural: Hemoglobin - Fe; Vit. B12-Co
synthetic: EDTA
Quantitatively, these are the 2 more important minerals
Calcium and Phosphorous
Ca and P compose over what % of body minerals
70%
Adequate Ca and P nutrition depends on what 3 factors
1) Sufficient supply of Ca and P
2) A Suitable ratio between the two 1:1 - 2:1
3) the presence of vit. D (more D = higher utilization)
99 % Ca and 80 % P are in ____ and ______
bones and teeth = major structural component
ratio of Ca:P in bone
2:1
___ is necessary for blood clotting mechanism, along with vit. D and K
Ca
___ is involved in neuromuscular activity, interacts with other minerals to control and regulate muscle and nerve reactions
Ca++
Calcium enzyme activator
pancreatic lipase, succinic dehydrogenase, ATPase
Ca osmoregulation
helps regulate osmotic pressure of cellular fluids in body
helps maintain acid-base equilibrium of body fluids
Ca
Ca absorption occurs
primarily in proximal portion gut
Factors conductive to Ca++ absorption
1) acid condition helps keep Ca in solution
2) adequate vit. D (involved in active transport of Ca and/or increase mucosal cell permeability to Ca)
3) low levels of phytic acid b/c of high levels decrease absorption
4) low oxalic acid (reduced absorption if present in high amts)
5) low P levels if have excess of either Ca or P, it decreases absorption of the other
6) estrogen’s increase absorption and storage
7) increase absorption with decrease age
Excretion method of calcium
feces- route for undigested and unabsorbed Ca and P
amount of blood Ca++
9-12 mg/100 ml
blood Ca++ not readily influenced by dietary intake
5 consequences of calcium deficiency
1) reduced growth, especially bone
2) hyper-irritability and tetany
3) poor reproductive performance
4) rickets
5) osteomalacia
when growing bones do not calcify properly hence bones tend to bend under weight of animal
rickets
occurs in adult bone; involves softening of the bone due to a decrease in mineral content - over time may lead to weakness, deformity, spontaneous fractures
osteomalacia
what animals are the most likely to be deficient in Ca++ due to their very rapid growth rate and their diets
swine and poultry
grains and concentrates are lowing in Ca+ than roughage
*** “neutral pH (6.8-7.0) similar to the distal duodenum rather than acid conditions (pH 5.0-5.8) in the proximal duodenum” what effect will this have on the absorption of calcium?
decrease
***What affect will having adequate Vit. D as opposed to the omission of this vitamin from the supplement have on the absorption of calcium?
increase
***having low levels of phytic acid by changing the source of ingredients used will ____ absorption of Ca
increase
***eating more brassicas ( cabbage, broccoli, etc) and increasing oxalic acid intake will ______ absorption of Ca
decrease
***Lowing the P content of the diet will _____ absorption of Ca
increase
***estrogen administration to an older animal or person will _____ the absorption of Ca
increase
***aging will __ the absorption of Ca
decrease
