Unit 6 - Water & Minerals Flashcards
What are the functions of water in the body?
- Carry nutrients and waste products
- Maintain structure of large molecules
- Participate in metabolic reactions
- Solvent for minerals, vitamins, AAs, glucose, and other other small molecules
- Maintain blood volume
- Regulation of body temp.
- Lubricant and cushion around joints and inside the eyes, spinal cord, and amniotic sac
Water excretion is regulated by ____ and ____
Brain and kidneys
What effect does the brain have on water balance?
- Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland to release antidiuretic hormone (ADH) when salts are too concentrated, or blood volume or BP is too low
- ADH stimulates kidneys to reabsorb water
What happens if too much water is lost from the body?
Blood volume and BP fall
How do cells of the kidney respond to low BP?
Release aldosterone, which causes the kidneys to retain more water
What are electrolyte solutions?
Body fluids which contain water and partly dissociated salts
___ follows ____
Water follows salt
What can cause electrolyte loss?
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Heavy sweating
- Fever
- Burns and wounds
What are major minerals?
Minerals found in the body is amounts greater than 5 grams
What are trace minerals?
Minerals found in the body is amounts less than 5 grams
Which minerals are major minerals?
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Sulfur
Which minerals are trace minerals?
- Chromium
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Iodine
- Iron
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Selenium
- Zinc
What is the DRI and UL for sodium?
- DRI = 1,500 mg
- UL = 2,300 mg
What is the function of sodium?
- Principal electrolyte in extracellular fluid
- Primary regulatory of extracellular fluid volume
What can high levels of sodium lead to?
Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cerebral hemorrhage
What affects sodium absorption?
When sodium blood concentration rises (when a person eats salty foods), thirst prompts the person to drink water until the appropriate sodium-to-water ratio is restored
What are the functions of chloride?
- Accompanies sodium in the fluids outside cells
- Helps to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance and acid-base balance
What is the main source of chloride?
Salt (naturally occurring and added salt)
Do people normally have chloride deficiency?
No
Is chloride deficiency harmful?
No
What effect does dehydration have on potassium?
Causes loss of potassium from inside cells
What are the functions of potassium?
- Help w/ ability of brain to detect need for fluids
- Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance and cell integrity
- Contraction of muscles, including the heart
What are food sources of potassium?
- Fresh, whole foods (processing causes potassium loss)
- Most vegetables and fruits as well as legumes
What can a potassium deficiency cause?
- Increased blood pressure
- Salt sensitivity
- Kidney stones
What is primarily the cause of potassium deficiency?
Excessive loss
What can potassium toxicity cause?
Can prevent or even correct hypertension
Can potassium toxicity result from overeating foods high in potassium?
No
What is the most abundant mineral in the body?
Calcium
Where is the majority of calcium stored?
Bones and teeth
What is the function of calcium?
Integral part of bone structure
What happens if the diet is not adequate in calcium?
Body will maintain blood calcium levels by taking calcium from bones
What are symptoms of calcium toxicity?
- Constipation
- Interference w/ absorption of other minerals
- Increased risk of kidney stones
What occurs when blood calcium rises too high?
Hormones and vitamin D promote its deposit into bones
What occurs when blood calcium falls too low?
1) Small intestine absorbs more calcium
2) Bones release more calcium into blood
3) Kidneys excrete less calcium
What are the functions of magnesium?
- Critical to operation of enzymes and other cellular functions
- Forms part of protein-making machinery
- Works w/ calcium for proper functioning of muscles
What are food sources of magnesium?
- Nuts
- Legumes
- Seafood
- Whole grains
- Dark green vegetables
- Chocolate
What occurs when blood magnesium levels are too low?
Body can borrow from bone stores of magnesium
What causes magnesium toxicity and what are the symptoms?
- Caused by supplements or magnesium salts
- Symptoms - diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, potassium depletion
What is sulfate?
Oxidized form of sulfur as it exists in food and water
What is the function of sulfate?
Involved in synthesis of many important sulfur containing compounds, such as amino acids that form protein in skin, hair, and nails
What are food sources of sulfate?
Protein containing foods
Where is iron stored?
Bone marrow
What are the functions of iron?
- Vital to processes by which cells generate energy
- Needed to make new cells, amino acids, hormones, and NTs
What does hemoglobin do?
Carries oxygen from lungs to tissues
What does myoglobin do?
Holds oxygen for muscles to use when they contract
What are food sources of iron?
- Meats, fish, poultry
- Legumes, eggs
- Enriched and whole grain products
- Dark green leafy vegetables and dry fruits
What are the 2 forms of iron and which is more absorbable and which is more often consumed?
- Heme iron (more absorbable)
- Nonheme iron (more often consumed)
What is the most common nutrient deficiency?
Iron
What can extreme iron deficiency result in?
Iron-deficiency anemia
What is the primary non-nutritional cause of iron deficiency?
Blood loss
What are early symptoms of iron toxicity?
- Fatigue
- Mental depression
- Abdominal pain
What is hemochromatosis?
Iron overload
What is the treatment for hemochromatosis?
Phlebotomy (removal of blood to lower the amount of iron in the body)
What occurs when RBC’s die?
Spleen and liver break them down, salvage the iron, and send iron back to bone marrow for storage
Can the body excrete excess iron?
No
What does hepcidin do and what triggers its release and what suppresses its release?
- Hepcidin secretion is triggered by elevated iron blood levels; hepcidin secretion is suppressed by low iron blood levels
- Reduces iron absorption and inhibits release of stored iron, therefore reducing blood iron concentration
How can iron absorption from foods be enhanced?
MFP factor and vitamin C
What impairs iron absorption?
- Tea and coffee
- Calcium
- Phytates that accompany fiber in legumes and whole grain cereals
What is the function of zinc?
Works w/ proteins in every organ and helps to activate many enzymes
What are food sources of zinc?
- Meats, shellfish, poultry
- Milk products
- Some legumes and whole grains
What can zinc deficiency cause?
- Growth impairment
- Impaired immune system
- Disturb normal thyroid function
Who are zinc deficiencies most common in?
- Pregnant women
- Young children
- Elderly
- Poor
What are symptoms of zinc toxicity?
- Loss of appetite
- Impaired immunity
- Possibly death
Zinc from ____ sources is best absorbed
Animal
Where is zinc stored?
Intestinal cells
What impairs and enhances zinc absorption?
- Phytates impair
- Protein enhances
What is the function of selenium?
Antioxidant
What are food sources of selenium?
- Meats and seafood
- Grains and vegetables
What is selenium deficiency linked to?
Predisposition to Keshan disease (heart disease)
What are symptoms of selenium toxicity?
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Loss of hair and nails
- Lesions of the skin and NS
What is the difference between iodine and iodide?
- Iodine = nutrient in food
- Iodide = when it enters the body
What are the functions of iodine?
Regulating metabolic rate, growth, reproduction, and body temp
What determines the amount of iodine in food?
The soil the plants were grown in or on which the animals grazed
What occurs when iodine is deficient?
Cells in thyroid gland enlarge attempting to trap more particles of iodine, sometimes causing an enlargement of the thyroid gland
What can happen if a pregnant woman is severely deficient in iodine?
Cretinism (extreme and irreversible mental and physical impairment)
What can iodine toxicity cause?
Enlargement of thyroid gland
What are the functions of copper?
- Assist in wound healing
- Manufacturing collagen
- Maintain sheaths are nerve fibers
- Helps cells to use iron
What are food sources of copper?
- Meat and alternatives
- Whole grains
What effect does zinc have on copper?
High intakes of zinc can interfere w/ copper absorption and can lead to copper deficiency
What is the function of manganese?
Cofactor for many enzymes
Where is manganese found in the body?
Bones and metabolically active organs
What are food sources of manganese?
Plant foods (nuts, whole grains, leafy green vegetables)
What is the function of fluoride?
Inhibit development of dental caries in adults and children
What are food sources of fluoride?
- Drinking water
- Processed soft drink and fruit juices made w/ fluorinated water
- Fish
- Tea
What can fluoride deficiency cause?
Dental decay
What is fluorosis and what can it cause?
- Too much fluoride is consumed
- Discolouration in developing teeth
What is the function of chromium?
Plays a role in how the body metabolizes carbs and fat
Chromium works closely w/ which hormone?
Insulin
What are food sources of chromium?
- Liver, nuts, cheese
- Brewer’s yeast, whole grains
- Fruits and vegetables
Is chromium deficiency common? Why or why not?
Uncommon b/c only a small amount is required
What is the basis of the DASH diet?
Decrease sodium intake and increase potassium intake
People w/ _____ will benefit from the DASH diet
High blood pressure
What are some non-modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis?
- Female gender
- Older age
- Small frame
- Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic heritage
- Family history
- Personal history of fractures
- Estrogen or testosterone deficiency
What are modifiable risk factors for osteoporosis?
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diet inadequate in calcium and vitamin D
- Diet excessive in protein, sodium, and caffeine
- Cigarette smoking
- Alcohol abuse
- Low body weight
- Certain medications (glucocorticoids, anticonvulsants)
