MİNERAL ELEMENTS :
Over 3 – 4 % of body weight is made up of mineral elements .
Minerals are found :
 ın bones
 teeth
 soft tissues
 muscle
 blood
 nerve cells
They should be supplied daily .
Excreted every day by :
 kidney
 bowel
 skin
MINERALS REGULATE THE ACTIVITY OF :
 nerves and muscles
 acid base equilibrium
 controls water balance
 utilizing food stuff
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CALCIUM :
99 % of Ca ------------------- is found in the bones & teeth .
Bones are slightly flexible living tissues infiltrated by blood vessels
nerves and cells . The solid parts of bones consist of networks of strong
protein fibers ( called the “ protein matrix “ ) embedded with mineral
crystals . The combination of water , the tough protein matrix , and the
mineral crystals makes bone very strong yet slightly flexible and capable
of absorbing shocks.
The mineral compounds are deposited in the protein frame work, making
it hard tissues.
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Ca
P
Mg
Na
K
Cu
Zn
Fe
stronium
vanadium
silikon
aluminum
Ca gives the rigitity & strenght to thr bones
REMODELING BONES : bones slowly and continually go through a
repair replacement process known , as remodeling. During remodeling
the old protein matrix is replaced and remineralized .
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FUNCTIONS :
 component of bones and teeth

 muscle contraction and relaxtion
 blood coagulation
 normal response of nerves
 cell wall permeability
 activating several enzymes
 maintaining acid base balance
 in the efficient utilization of Fe
DEFICIENCY :
In children ; poor bone formation due to the lack of Ca – P – Vit. D
is called RİCKETS .
In adults : OSTEOMALACİA ( softening of the bones due to the
shortage of Ca & P )
OSTEOPOROSİS : is increased porosity of the bone ( deminerilization )
ETIOLOGY :
 many years of Ca deficiency ( intake – absorbtion or both )
 the hormanal decline of old age
 lack of exercise
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THE OSTEOPOROSIS RISK IS :
 higher in females than males
 higher in whites than in blacks
There is a trend to recommend 3 cups of milk daily for post
menopausal women .
Humans under the best circumstances will absorb only 20 - 40 % of Ca
SOURCES :
 milk and milk products except butter
 green leafy vegetables except spinach
 dried beans
RDA :
Women : 800 mg . / day
Men :
800 mg . / day
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PHOSPHORUS :
85 % is found in bones and teeth .
FUNCTIONS :
 found in the nucleus of every body cell
 acid – base balance
 needed for muscle and nerve activity
 ımportant in genetic material
 part of fosfolipids
 ıt is the constituent of enzymes ( in energy metabolism )
DEFICIENCY :
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WEAKNESS
BONE PAİN
NAUSEA - VOMİTİNG
LOSS OF CALCIUM
SOURCES :
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milk and milk products
egg yolk
all animal tissues
legumens
whole grain cereals
RDA :
Women : 800 mg . / day
Men :
800 mg . / day
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IRON :
The amount of iron found in the body is 3 – 5 gm.
FUNCTIONS :
 transports oxygen as a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells
 component of myoglobin ( a muscle protein )
 needed for certain reactions involving energy formation
IRON IS STORED IN :
 LİVER
 BONE MARROW
 SPLEEN
IRON IS LOST BY :
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surgery
hemorrage
menstrual flow
blood donation
tooth extraction
IRON
NON – HEME IRON
HEME IRON
Animal originated foods
plant originated foods
- 6–
IRON ABSORBTION
In the presence of
In the presence of
1 . Gastric hydrıcloric acid
1 . phosphate
2 . Vit . C
2 . oxalate
3 . phytate
ENHANCES
INHIBITS
DEFİCİENCY :
 iron deficiency anemia
 weakness – fatique
 reduced resistance to infection
SOURCES :
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ORGAN MEATS –MEAT
EGG YOLK
LEGUMENS – GREEN & YELLOW VEGETABLES
NUTS & DRİED FRUITS
RDA :
Women : 15 mg. / day
Men
: 10 mg. / day
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IODINE :
15 - 30 mg. iodine is found in the body .
60 % is in ----------------- Thyroid gland .
FUNCTION :
 component of thyroid hormones that help regulate energy
production and growth .
DEFICIENCY :
 goiter ( called endemic or simple goiter )
 cretinism in new borns ( mental redardation – hearing loss –
growth failure)
SOURCES :
 ıodized salt
 sea food
 foods grown in non – goiterous regions
GOITROGENS :
Natural anti – thyroid compounds ( cabbage - cauliflower – turnips )
RDA :
Women : 150 mcg . / day
Men
:
150 mcg . / day
-8-
SODIUM : ( Na )
The average adult uses about 10 - 15 gm . of table salt daily . This is
more than twice as much as is needed for Na balance. The excess Na is
excreted by urine . Na is found mainly in the extracellular body fluids.
FUNCTIONS :
 acid – base balance
 needed for muscle and nerve activity
 helps maintain an appropriate amount of water in blood and body
tissues
DEFICIENCY :
 muscle cramps
 weakness
 headache
 nausea
 vascular collapse
SOURCES :
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table salt
milk - cheese
meat - egg white
sodium bicarbonate ( baking powder – baking soda )
RDA : Minimal intake 500 mg . / day
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POTASSIUM : ( K )
Potassium is found mainly in the intracellular water .
FUNCTIONS :
Same as Sodium ( Na )
DEFICIENCY :
 weakness
 tachycardia
 irritabilty - mental confusion
 respiratory muscle failure
 cardiac arrest
SOURCES :
 potatoes – bananas – oranges – apricots
 meats
 milk & milk products
No RDA is recommended .
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NEEDED OF MINERALS INCREASES IN THE FOLLOWING
CİRCUMTANCES :
 growth and development ( ınfancy – pregnancy – adolescence –
lactation
 physiological stresses
 eldery
 convalescent period
The other mineral elements which is found in the body are :
Chromium
Zinc
Mollybdenum
Arsenic
Magnesium
Selenyum
Chlorine
Silicon
Sulphur
Bromine
Copper
Aliminum
Cobalt
Nickel
Manganese
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