The Minerals & Supplementation
Chapters 11 & 12
The Minerals – An Overview

Major vs. trace minerals
 Variation in amounts needed

Inorganic elements
 Always retain chemical identity
 Cannot be destroyed by heat, air, acid,
or mixing

Water-soluble
 Can leach out into cooking liquid
The Minerals

Major
–
–
–
–
–
–
Sodium
Chloride
Potassium
Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium

Trace
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Iron
Zinc
Iodine
Selenium
Copper
Manganese
Fluoride
Chromium
Molybdenum
Additional Trace Minerals

Research is difficult
 Small quantities in body and foods
 Large amounts can be toxic
 Human deficiencies are unknown






Nickel
Silicon
Vanadium
Cobalt
Boron
Arsenic
Bioavailability

Varies
 Binders in food and beverages:
phytates, tannins, oxalate, fiber

Nutrient interactions
 Presence of other minerals
 Calcium and Fe, Zn, Mg, P
 Zinc supplementation and copper
 Copper status and iron utilization
 Vitamin C
Vitamin & Mineral Supplements

Taken as dietary or health insurance
 Most of the time, costly but harmless
practice, but…
 Can be harmful to health

Mostly self-prescribed
 May be recommended by health care
provider
 Improving food choices is preferred
course of action whenever possible
Arguments for Supplements


Correct overt deficiencies
 Therapeutic doses can be 2-10 times
RDA or AI
 Requires professional guidance
Support increased nutrient needs
 Certain stages of life



Improve nutrition status
Improve body defenses
Reduce disease risks
Who needs supplements?




Specific nutrient
deficiencies
Low energy
intakes
Vegans and older
adults with
atrophic gastritis
Certain
medications



Certain stages of
life cycle
Little sun
exposure or dark
skin
Medical
conditions or
medications that
interfere with
nutrients in body
Arguments Against Supplements

Toxicity
 Supplement users are more likely to
have excessive intakes
 Issues with children

Potentially life-threatening
misinformation
 No guarantee of supplement
effectiveness

Unknown needs
 “Ideal” supplements
Arguments Against Supplements


False sense of security
Other invalid reasons
 Today’s health problems
 Overnutrition
 Poor lifestyle choices

Bioavailability and antagonistic actions
 Nutrients may interfere with one another’s
action
 Make dietary modifications first
 What do foods have to offer that supplements
don’t?
Selecting Supplements




Follow directions carefully
Start with single, balanced vitaminmineral supplement
U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) logo
 Logo assurances: identity, strength,
quality, and purity
Two basic questions
 Form
 Contents
Potentially Misleading Claims

Organic or natural vitamins
 High potency claims
 Marketing strategy
 Fake vitamins and “essential”
compounds
 “Green” pills
 Stress relief


Internet advertising: not regulated
Cost: store brands vs. premium
Regulation of Supplements


Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Dietary Supplement Health and
Education Act of 1994
 Intended to enable consumers to make
informed choices
 Same general labeling requirements
as foods
 Net effect: deregulation of supplement
industry