Water & Minerals Flashcards
Water functions
- 60% of total body weight
- Provides shape and structure to cells
- Regulate body temperature
- Aids in the digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Major component of mucus and lubricating fluids
TRUE OR FALSE: Total body water balance is tightly regulated within ±0.2% of
body weight.
TRUE
What controls our daily fluid balance?
Sensation of thirst
The action of the hormone vasopressin
How much water do asults lose daily?
1750 - 3000 mL
Types of water output
Insensible
Sensible
Adequate Intake for men 19-70+
3.7 L/day
Adequate Intake for men 19-70+
2.7 L/day
TRUE OR FALSE: Drinking fluids should not be delayed until the sensation of thirst occurs
TRUE
Increases in water loss
o Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever
o Thermal injuries, fistulas, uncontrolled diabetes, hemorrhage, and certain renal disorders
o Use of drainage tubes contributes to increased water losses.
o Intake and output records are used to assess adequacy of intake
Dehydration is characterized by:
o Impaired mental function
o Impaired motor control
o Increased body temperature during exercise
o Increased resting heart rate when standing or lying down
o Increased risk of life-threatening heat stroke
What patients are at risk for hyponatremia?
- Infants
- Psychiatric patients with excessive thirst
- Women who have undergone surgery using a uterine distention medium
- Athletes in endurance events who drink too much water, fail to replace lost
sodium, or both.
Major minerals
Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Sulfur Sodium Potassium, Chloride
Trace minerals
Iron Iodine Zinc Selenium Copper Manganese Fluoride
TRUE OR FALSE: Minerals undergo digestion, nor are they broken
down or rearranged during metabolism
FALSE. Minerals do not undergo digestion, nor are they broken
down or rearranged during metabolism
TRUE OR FALSE: Minerals are not destroyed by light, air, heat, or acids
during food preparation
TRUE
Function of minerals
Provide structure to body tissues
Regulate body processes.
Mineral balance is maintained by:
o Releasing minerals from storage for redistribution
o Altering rate of absorption
o Altering rate of excretion
Sodium
Salt is approx. 40% sodium
- Major extracellular cation
- Largely responsible for regulating fluid balance
- Adequate intake: 1500mg/day
Potassium
– Major cation of the intracellular fluid
– When potassium excretion is impaired, such as secondary to diabetes,
chronic renal insufficiency, end- stage renal disease, severe heart failure,
and adrenal insufficiency, high potassium intakes can lead to hyperkalemia
and life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Calcium
- Most plentiful mineral in the body
- Probably protect against colorectal cancer
- Calcium balance achieved through action of vitamin D and hormones
- 3 daily servings of milk, yogurt, or cheese plus nondairy
sources of calcium are needed to ensure an adequate calcium
intake.
Phosphorus
- Second most abundant mineral in the body is
phosphorus. - About 60% of natural phosphorus from food sources is absorbed.
Magnesium
Fourth most abundant mineral in the body
Chloride
– Major anion in the extracellular fluid
– AI for younger adults is 2.3 g/day
Iron
- Approximately two-thirds of the body’s 3 to 5 g of iron is contained
in the heme portion of hemoglobin.
Sources:
- Heme iron: meat, fish and poultry
- Nonheme iron: plants such as grains, vegetables, legumes and nuts
Deficiency:
- Microcytic, hypochromic anemia
- Pica
Toxicity:
- Potential for toxicity is moderate to high.
- Hemochromatosis
- Acute iron toxicity
RDA for iron
8 mg for men and postmenopausal women
18 mg for premenopausal women.
Zinc
• A regular and sufficient intake is necessary.
• Plays important roles in immune system functioning and in
wound healing
Iodine
Essential component of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine
T3
Copper
Distributed in muscles, liver, brain, bones, kidneys, and blood
Functions: involved in
- hemoglobin synthesis,
- collagen formation,
- wound healing
- maintenance of nerve fibers
• Fluoride
Promotes the mineralization of developing tooth enamel prior to tooth eruption and the remineralization of surface enamel in erupted teeth
Molybdenum
Plays a role in red blood cell synthesis
Chromium
Enhances the action of the hormone insulin to help regulate
blood glucose levels
