NUTRIENT METABOLISM

MINERALS

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 MINERALS -GENERAL
The mineral elements require by the body through the diet can be
classified in to two groups .They are:-
1.Principal mineral elements or macrominerals
There are seven principal minerals. They are sodium, Potassium,
Calcium, Magnesium, Chlorine, phosphorus and sulphur.
2.Trace elements or microminerals
These elements are present in the living tissue in small amounts
.They include Iron, Iodine, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Cobalt ,
Molybdenum, Selenium , Chromium and fluorine.
Toxic elements: minerals like Aluminium, Lead
,Cadmium and Mercury are toxic to our body and should be
avoided.

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 IRON(Fe)
The total Fe content of the body is 3-5 gm.
75 % of it is present in the blood and the rest in liver
,bone marrow and muscle.
Essential component of Hb and Myoglobin.
Also present in the structure of enzymes such as cyt.
Oxidase, catalase and peroxidase.
Fe is a part of electron carriers in the electron transport
chain generally called as cytochromes or respiratory
pigments.
it is involved in oxidation reduction reactions of
mitochondrial electron transport chain.
Examples are cytochromes like cyt.b,c-1 ,c, a and a-3.

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 IRON(Fe)
Sources: Leafy vegetables ,sugar cane, liver and meat ( milk is a very
poor source).
Only reduced form of Fe ( Fe ++/ Ferrous form) is absorbed from
the intestine. Fe +++ /ferric form is not absorbed.
Fe absorption is inhibited by oxalic acid (vegitables- tomato) and
phytic acid in cereals).
Transport of Fe : In the blood Fe is transported with the help of a
plasma protein called transferrin. Ceruloplasmin ( ferroxidase)
helps in the incorporation of Fe in to transferrin ( ferroxidase
activity).
Storage of Fe: Fe is stored with the help of a protein called ferritin.
Apo-ferritin combines with Fe to form ferritin. Ferritin is present
in intestine , liver, spleen and bone marrow.
Apoferritin synthesis is decreased during Fe deficiency
anemeia and become normalized during Fe
supplementation.

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 IRON( Fe)
Causes of Fe deficiency: Nutritional deficiency, Hookworm
infection, repeated pregnancies, chronic blood loss, nephrosis, lack of
absorption and lead toxicity( Pb and Fe compete each other).
When the Fe content in the body is decreased , a condition
develops called apathy- characterized by
weakness/sluggishness because of derangement in cellular
respiration( energy production) and disturbance in all
other metabolic processes.
Conservation of Fe: There are two plasma proteins which are
involved in the conservation of Fe preventing its excretion in the
urine.
1. Haptoglobin that binds free Hb in the plasma
2. Hemopexin that binds the heme.

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 IRON( Fe)
Excretion of Fe: Fe is a one way element ie. Only very little is excreted
from the body. Bleeding ( including menstruation in females)is the only
way of loss of Fe from the body.
Homeostasis is maintained by regulation over Fe absorption.
Fe toxicity: Excess of Fe in the body is called hemosiderosis, occurs in
person who receive repeated blood transfusions. When the total body Fe is
higher than 25- 30 gm hemosederosis is manifested.
Hemosederin deposit in the hepatocytes will lead to necrosis and cihrrosis
& in the pancreas leads to pancreatic cell death and Diabetes Mellitus.
hemosederin deposit under the skin lead to yellow- brown discoloration , a
condition called hemochromatosis( hemochromatosis and DM when
they occur together , called bronze DM.
Repeated phlebotomy every week reduces the risk of
hemosederosis. Desferroxamine is a drug( chelating
agent that chelate Fe and make it excretable through
urine).

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 CALCIUM(Ca)
FUNCTIONS OF Ca:
Calcium is essential for the formation and
development of bones and teeth.
It is required for the activity of several enzymes
such as SDH and certain proteolytic enzymes.
Activate pancreatic lipase enzyme and facilitate
lipid digestion.
It is required for blood coagulation.
It is required for muscular contraction and nerve
impulse transmission.
Required for secretion of hormones.

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 CALCIUM(Ca)
Total Ca in the body is 1- 1.5 Kg.
99 % of Ca is seen in bone and 1% in extracellular fluid.
Sources: Milk is a very good source.
Egg , fish and vegetables are medium sources.
Cereals are poor sources.
Adults need 500 mg of Ca /day.
In children it is 1200 mg.
In pregnant it is 1500 mg.
Vitamin D( calcitriol), parathyroid hormone etc. favours Ca
absorption. Ca transport takes place with the help of
Calbindin protein.
Phytic acids , oxalates, phosphates and malabsorption
syndromes reduces Ca absorption.

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 CALCIUM(Ca)
Calcium in blood :
Normal level is 9-11mg/100 ml.
Ca++ is the metabolically active form.
About 4 % blood Ca is bound to protein ( non diffusible
Ca)
Various factors affect blood calcium level such as Vit. D ,
PTH and calcitonin.
Ca deficiency( Hypocalcemia): Osteoporosis, rickets and
osteomalacia are the complications.
Ca toxicity( Hypercalcemia): does not occur because
excess Ca can be removed from the body by different
mechanisms( urine , faeces).

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 PHOSPHORUS(P)
It is involved in the formation of bone and teeth.
Phosphorus is required for the synthesis of nucleotides
phosphoproteins ,Phospholipids, organophosphates ,
and energy rich compounds such as ATP, GTP ,creatine
P etc.
It is a constituent of nucleotides that build up DNA and
RNA.
Present in the structure of co- enzymes like NAD ,
NADP, FAD etc.
Important in energy transformation and oxidative
metabolism in the body.
Component of phosphate buffer system.

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 PHOSPHORUS(P)
SOURCES:
Milk is a good source.
Meat , vegetables and cereals are moderate sources.
Serum level: 3-4 mg/100 ml.
Phosphate homeostasis is regulated by excretion
through urine.

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 SODIUM(Na)
FUNCTIONS OF Na:
It is the major extra cellular cation in the body.
Regulate plasma volume , acid base balance , nerve
and muscle function ( nerve impulse transmission
and muscular contraction ) .
The absorption of Glucose in the small intestine is
Na dependent ( Na+ dependent active transport).
Na pump is operating in all tissues and all cells and
is essential for fluid balance.
Formation of bile salts( Na-taurocholate and Na
glycocholate).

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 SODIUM( Na)
Sources: Table salt, drinking water.
Hypernatremia( increased concentration of Na)
is seen in prolonged cortisone therapy,
pregnancy( causing pregnancy induced edema)
and during dehydration when blood volume is
decreased with apparent increase in Na.
Hyponatremia is very rare and is observed
during vomiting , diarrhoea, burns, renal
tubular acidosis and during prolonged sweating.

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 POTASSIUM(K)
Functions of K:
It is the major cation in the intracellular fluid.
It is required for muscle contraction and nerve
impulse transmission.
Requiremnt: 3- 4 gm /day.
Sources: banana, orranages , apple , pineapple, dates
,potato etc.
Normal level in blood: 3.5- 5 m Eq/L

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 POTTASSIUM( K)
Hypokalemia: If the potassium concentration is below 3 m
Eq / L ,the condition is called hypokalemia.
Hypokalemia lead to metabolic alkalosis and increased
blood p H. Diuretic drugs may cause increased excretion of
K in the urine.
There fore standard supplementation is required during
treatment with diuretics.
Hyperkalemia : refers to a condition characterised by K
level above 5 m Eq/ L. Hyper kalemia is characterized by
increased membrane excitability, can lead to bradycardia
and cardiac arrest.
Seen during Dehydration , Diarrhea and in Cushings syndrome(
increased production of mineralocorticoid /aldosterone) lead to
increased renal tubular reaabsorption.
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 CHLORIDE(Cl-)
Functions:
It is involved in the maintenance of fluid and
electrolyte balance.
It is essential for the formation of HCL in the gastric
juice.
It is an activator of enzymes like amylase.

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 CHLORIDE( Cl-)
Sources: table salt, drinking water.
Hyperchloremia is seen in dehydration, severe
diarrhoea and renal tubular acidosis.
Hypochloremia is seen in excessive vomiting, excessive
sweating and during Addisons disease ( aldosterone
level is dimnished)followed by diminished tubular re-
absorption and increased excretion.

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 FLURINE(F)
Increases hardness of bone and teeth .
deficiency causes dental caries and osteoporosis.
excess concentration lead to fluorosis of the teeth
characterized by reddish brown pigmented teeth .
Flouride is present in commercial tooth pastes.

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 MAGNESIUM( Mg)
It is a constituent of bone and teeth.
It is a cofactor for kinases ( a group of enzymes ) .
Hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia are the
conditions characterized by defect in Mg
homeostasis.
Source: drinking water.

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 COPPER(Cu)
FUNCTIONS:
1. Constituent of cyt. Oxidase enzyme in the electron transport
chain.
2. Deficiency lead to hypochromic microcytic anemia (Cu is
essential for the formation of Hb (Cu is a part of ALA
synthase enzyme that catalyzes the first step in heme
biosynthesis).
Cu containing ceruloplasmin helps in Fe transport in the
form of transferrin (by providing ferroxidase activity),
Therefore Cu deficiency will be manifested as anemia.
Cu is a constituent of Lysyl oxidase enzyme essential for the
formation of elastin protein. Cu deficiency will cause
weakening of the wall of major blood vessels.
Also Cu deficiency will lead to fibrosis of the
myocardium and can lead to cardiac arrest.

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 COPPER(Cu)
Cu is present in Tyrosinase enzyme involved in
melanin synthesis, therefore can cause hypo
pigmentation.
Source of Cu: drinking water.
Cu toxicity: Chronic toxicity will be manifested as
diarrhea and blue -green dis-coloration of the
saliva.
Hemoglobinuria, proteinuria, hemolysis and renal
failure are the other complications.

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 IODINE(I)
Functions:
1.Constituent of the hormone thyroxine
2. Deficiency lead to goitre and mixedima in adult
and cretinism in children.
Sources: Iodized salt , drinking water , sea food ( fish).
MANGANESE(Mn)
Functions:
co-factor for hydrolases , decarboxylases and
transferases( enzymes ).
required for glycoprotein and proteoglycan
biosynthesis.
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 ZINC(Zn)
Functions:
1.Coenzyme for enzymes like Lactate dehydrogenase,
alkaline phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase.
MOLEBDENUM(Mb)
Functions:
1.It is a constituent of the enzyme Xanthine oxidase.

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 COBALT(Co)
Cobalt is a component of
cyanocobalamine(Vit.B12).
SELENIUM(Se)
Functions:
It is a constituent of the amino acid seleno
cystene .
Selenocystene is present in Glutathione
peroxidase enzyme.
It functions as an anti-oxidant against the
peroxidation of membrane lipids.

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 THANK YOU FOR

YOUR ATTENTION

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