Trace Minerals Flashcards
What is the difference between trace minerals and major minerals?
Trace minerals are found in the body in extremely small amounts.
What is osteoporosis?
loss of bone, usually due to calcium/vitamin D deficiency. There are two types.
Describe Osteoporosis type 1.
loss of spongy bone.
produces sudden breaks.
Describe Osteoporosis type 2.
slow loss of both spongy and compact bone.
compressed vertebrae, hunched back, hip breaks.
Why are women more likely than men to have osteoporosis?
lack of estrogen and also blood loss related to menopause AND they bare children (baby requires calcium so mothers body could take her calcium in her bone to give to the baby and also calcium is needed in abundance during lactation.)
At what age does osteoporosis usually start?
between 30-35 years old.
a loss of 6 inches from 50 years old to 80 years old.
What are some contributing factors of osteoporosis?
Age
Sex
Activity level (more active = slower degeneration)
Smoking/Alcohol (impairs ability to absorb nutrients)
Nutrition
What are the roles of Iron?
- 2 forms: Ferrous (+2) and Ferric (+3)
- acts as a cofactor to enzymes in redox reactions
- found in amino acids, collagen, hormones, and neurotransmitters
- major component of HEMOGLOBIN - red blood cells and myoglobin- gives muscle cells the red color
what is a redox reaction?
- reduction + oxidation
- every reaction of the metabolism is a redox reaction
What is the significant of Fe2+ and Fe3+?
determines muscle color.
note… ground beef is wrapped tightly to maintain iron in the Ferrous form by creating an environment with little to no oxygen. Meat browns when it is exposed to oxygen and Fe2+ is oxidized into Fe3+.
Why is a female’s daily recommended intake of iron higher than a male’s?
she loses iron during menstruation
What is the most common nutrient deficiency worldwide?
Iron
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
-low hemoglobin synthesis due to lack of iron
S/S:
fatigue, weakness, headaches, poor resistance to cold temps, pale skin, pale tongue and conjunctiva
What can Iron Deficiency result in?
- iron deficiency anemia
- behavioral problems b/c of the impaired energy metabolism (irritable, can’t think straight, agitated)
- Pica
What is Pica?
an appetite for nonfood substances. common with parasites because they use up the host’s iron source.
Iron Toxicity
Fe Poisoning - GI distress( constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
Fe Toxicity- used to be rare
S/S:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, weak pulse, dizziness, confusion, organ damage
What is Hemochromatosis?
- a genetic iron overload disorder.
- excess absorption of Fe
- Most common genetic disorder in US
What are the proteins that help in iron transport?
- Mucosal Ferritin: intestines, captures Fe from food to storage
- Mucosal Transferrin: Fe transport protein that takes Fe from storage to different parts of the body
- Blood Transferrin: Fe transport protein that takes Fe from blood to the bone marrow after RBC are broken down (Iron recycling)
Heme vs. Non Heme Iron
Heme - animal source
Non Heme - plant source
What are the absorption-enhancing factors for Iron?
Fe-absorption peptides, Vitamin C, organic acid, sugar
What are the absorption-inhibiting factors for Iron?
fiber, Calcium, EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid), tannic acid
EDTA: a member of the chelating agents. Chelating agents bind with minerals (in this case iron) so it can’t be absorbed anymore.
Tannic Acid: found in coffee, tea and wine
When are the stages of life where a person is more vulnerable to be deficient of Iron?
- menstruation
- pregnancy
- lactation
- young men who are growing
Where can you get Iron from?
red meat, fish, poultry, legumes, eggs, dark-green veggies, grain products
Why is it important to remember that minerals are not Vitamins?
-majority of vitamins are heat sensitive and are lost during the preparation of foods. Minerals are not heat sensitive and are virtually indestructible. you don’t need to worry about minerals not surviving cooking.
What roles does Zinc play?
Cofactor in metabolic processes like…
- regulation of gene expression
- stabilizes cell membrane
- immune function, growth and development
- insulin synthesis, storage and release
- blood clotting, thyroid hormone function, retinal production
What aids in the absorption of Zinc?
Metallohionein
What aids in the transport of Zinc?
Albumin
Describe the Enteropancreatic circulation of Zinc.
intestine –> blood stream –> pancreas –> used to synthesize enzymes –> back into intestines in form of enzymes needed for digestion
Who is prone to Zinc deficiency?
Pregnant women, young children, the elderly, the poor
Middle Eastern people: their diet is low in Zn sources but high in fibers and phytate
What are the deficiency symptoms of Zinc?
growth retardation, decreased pancreatic function(hinders digestion and absorption), decreased thyroid function and immune function, decreased Vitamin A metabolism, damage to the central nervous system
Why is Zinc deficiency likely to be misdiagnosed?
the symptoms are broad
What are the toxicity symptoms of Zinc?
vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, exhaustion.
Zinc toxicity interferes with the metabolism of what nutrient?
Cu-Copper
Where can you find Zinc?
shell fish like oysters, dairy products, grains, green veggies
What are the roles of Iodine?
-THYROID hormone: body temp, metabolic rate, reproduction, growth
A goiter is caused by ….
a deficiency of iodine or a toxicity of iodine
What is a goiter?
an enlargement of they thyroid gland.
What countries are goiters usually seen?
south America, asia, and africa
S/S of Iodine deficiency?
fatigue, weight gain, cretinism
Why should pregnant women watch their Iodine intake?
too much iodine can cause the baby to be born with a goiter which could result in suffocation in infants
Where can you get Iodine?
salt, seafood, milk
What are the roles of Copper (Cu)?
- enzymatic reactions
- Hb and collagen synthesis
- wound healing
What are the S/S of Copper deficiency?
RARE
anemia and bone abnormalities
What is toxicity of Copper generally caused by and what are the S/S?
mostly genetic disorders like Menkes or Wilson’s
S/S: liver damage
What are Copper sources?
legumes, greens, nuts, shell fish
What are the roles of Manganese?
- Manganese is found in bones, liver, kidneys and pancreas
- cofactor for metabolic enzymes
- bone formation
High intakes of what two nutrients impair the absorption of Manganese?
Fe (iron) and Ca (calcium)
Toxicity of Manganese results in what kind of disorder?
Nervous system disorder
Roles of Fluoride.
-FLUOROAPATITE- strengthens bones and teeth
S/S of Fluoride deficiency
tooth discoloration (yellowish)
Source of Fluoride
Fluoridated drinking water
What will minerals most likely be (roles) ?
coenzymes, cofactors
What is the role of Chromium (Cr)?
- aids in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism
- works with insulin
What are the S/S of Chromium deficiency?
diabetes like symptoms… confusion, nerve damage
What are the toxicity S/S of Chromium ?
unknown
What roles does Selenium have?
- Antioxidant Function (most minerals don’t have this): glutathione peroxidase (enzyme that works with Vitamin E), prevents free radical formation
- helps activate thyroid hormones
Selenium deficiency S/S
heart disease (Keshan in regions of China) and cancer
What is Keshan Disease?
- selenium deficiency
- named for the region in China where it is common
Selenium toxicity S/S
hair loss, brittle nails, skin rash, fatigue, nervous system disorder
Sources of Selenium
Meats and grains
Roles of Molybdenum (Mo)
-enzyme cofactor
What are the toxicity S/S of Molybdenum?
level only in humans, have not been set in humans
- reproductive problems
- kidney damage
Sources of Molybdenum
milk, legumes, cereals and grains, bread, green vegetable
Aspects of Lead
- indestructible
- chemically similar to nutrient minerals like Fe, Ca, Zn (lead has +2 charge)
- displaces nutrient minerals w/o being able to perform their function (Fe in the heme- binds oxygen or Ca in the brain - synthesizes neurotransmitters and muscle contractions)
- destroys the structure of RBCs
- impairs the ability of WBCs to fight off infection
- binds with anitbodies- don’t want antibody to bind with lead b/c you want the antibody to bind with an antigen so the antigen can get destroyed
What are the heavy metals?
lead, mercury, cadmium
Lead toxicity in children
children put everything in their mouth which is why they are prone to lead poisoning Results in -learning disabilities (reduced short term memory and impairs concentration) -Low IQ -behavior problems -slow growth -Iron deficiency anemia -dental caries -sleep disturbances -nervous system disorders, seizures -impaired hearing
Lead Toxicity S/S in Adults
- hypertension
- reproductive complication
- kidney failure
Bone Meal
- ground bone
- taken b/c the belief that is will increase calcium intake but actually could have the adverse effect because it may contain Lead
Kelp and Nori
- seaweed
- high in iodine, but may also have arsenic and other carcinogens
Super Blue Green Algae
-freezedried pond “scum”
- sold in pills and powders
-loaded with claims that are not proven valid like….
memory and learning, immune function, heart health and circulation, digestion, more energy, weight control, decreased hunger, easing life transistions and transformations, understanding and accepting life experiences, listening to inner voices of guidance, rebuilding self esteem, nourishing and creating joy in our lives… etc etc etc
Spirulina
- company agreed to pay $225,000 to settle charges that they had made false claims about Spirulina
- FDA concluded that there is no evidence that spiraling is effective as an appetite suppressant. the FDA has also noted that the “65 % protein” claim is meaningless b/c taken according to their label, spirulina products provide only a negligible amounts of protein.
