Revision of minerals and vitamins Flashcards
The functions of calcium…
They are essential in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth.
Important in intracellular signalling to enable integration and regulate metabolic processes, for transmission of information via the nervous system and for muscle contraction.
It helps lower blood pressure and may help protect against colon cancer.
A deficiency in calcium leads to…
It will lead to weak bones, this is seen in children through the disease rickets which is a curvature in your leg bones and sometimes your lower spine and in adults they will suffer from Osteomalcia which is also a weakening of your bones cause them to bend.
Osteoporosis is another bone problem which is due to not reaching peak bone mass and their bones will become weak and brittle and will fracture easily.
You may suffer stunted growth and convulsions.
What will an excess in calcium lead to?
Diarrhoea and stomach pain
Some food sources of calcium are…
Dairy products - milk, cheese, yogurt, cream
White bread has calcium fortified into it, green leafy veg and broccoli
What promotes and inhibits calcium absorption?
Promoting Factors - Vitamin D Acidic environment Dietary fibre Lactose Non - digestible oligosaccharides
Inhibitory factors - phytates oxalates unabsorbed dietary fats use of antacids
What are the functions of magnesium?
Has both physiological and biochemical functions.
Has interrelationships with potassium, sodium and calcium
Needed for activation of enzymes, parathyroid hormone secretion, bone metabolism and muscle and nerve function.
Deficiency in magnesium leads to…
Progressive muscle weakness
Neuromuscular dysfunction
Reduced blood pressure
Mild hypomagnesemia in alcoholics, severely ill patients and those with malabsorption disorders
Food sources of magnesium…
Found in both plant and animal, in the mineral chlorophyll, in nuts, green leafy veg, bread, fish and meat
Functions of phosphorus…
Needed for the formation of the bone component hydroxyapatite
Associated with energy metabolism
Normal bone and tooth structure
Dynamic equilibrium between calcium and phosphate
Important in all cells and is vital in the structure of all cell membranes
A deficiency in phosphorus leads to…
An excess in phosphorus leads to…
Some food sources of phosphorus…
Demineralisation of bones and teeth.
Can lower calcium levels in the blood
Fish, rice and bread
What are the functions of potassium?
Essential for water and electrolyte balance
normal functioning of cells and nerves
decreases blood pressure
Lowers sodium levels in urine
Can help protect against CVD and hypertension
Deficiency in potassium leads to…
Excess in potassium leads to…
Food sources…
Factors affecting absorption…
Severe diarrhoea, weakness, mental confusion, heart failure, death
Harmful to kidneys
Meat, fish, seeds, pulses
Coffee, Tobacco, Sugar
What are the functions of sodium?
Water and electrolyte balance in the body.
A control of sodium levels, balance between sodium excretion and absorption
Required for certain nutrients and water from the gut
Role in muscle and nerve function
A deficiency in sodium leads to…
Factors that cause deficiency…
Muscular fatigue, nausea, vertigo, mental apathy and reduced appetite.
Excess sweating, renal failure, diuretic drugs, Addison’s disease which is a failure to produce aldosterone and diarrhoea
An excess of sodium leads to…
An increased risk of high blood pressure, CVD and a stroke
It can also cause kidney abnormalities due to kidneys struggling.
Babies kidneys cannot cope with excess as they cannot excrete causing kidney problems and possible failure.
Can also cause fluid to be retained which is known as Oedema
