Mineral Function, Deficiency, Toxicity, etc

General functions

—> structural: bones and teeth (content and strength)
—> cofactors in enzymatic reactions, including breakdown of energy-yielding nutrients
—> nerve function
—> muscle contraction
—> fluid balance

inorganic (no carbon) 

Mineral and Water Regulation and Homoeostasis

Absorption: across intestinal cells into blood in small intestine (sometimes in large)
Reabsorption: in kidney
Resorption: release from bone

Sodium and Chloride functions

fluid balance (water moves from low ion to high ion salt concentration), balancnig intra- and extra- cellular volume, maintaining BP and cellular integrity

nerve function and muscle contraction (sodium with potassium)

digestion (HCI in stomach)

eliminate CO2 in lungs, immune function

Sodium and Chloride deficiency and toxicity

GI diseases, infection (excessive diarrhea, high losses in stool), coma, muscle cramps

can be caused by prolonged exercise

Toxicity
increased BP caused by increased blood volume in those with salt sensitivity (high salt in blood causes increased water released into blood, increasing BP)

At risk ppl: elderly, black people, women, hypertension/diabetes/kidney disease. Treated by DASH diet (grains, fruits, veggies, low-fat dairy, lean meat)

Oral rehydration therapy

a simple, inexpensive, life-saving treatment that replaces lost fluids and electrolytes, especially sodium and chloride, in dehydration.

glucose helps sodium absorb efficiently in the small intestine via active transport —> water follows sodium into the extracellular fluid, restoring blood volume and preventing low BP and dehydration

Exercise-induced Hyponatremia

drinking too much water without salts/glucose.

sodium level in the blood drops below normal during or after prolonged physical activity, usually due to excessive water intake, sodium loss through sweat, and impaired kidney water excretion. potentially FATAL

Potassium function

fluid balance, nerve function, energy metabolism (same as sodium chloride)

Potassium deficiency and toxicity

GI disease, infection, diuretics (loss in urine), Hypokalemia (muscle weakness, constipation, irritability, confusion, decreased BP)

Toxicity: intravenous or high-dose supplements. cardiac arrest, tingling in feet/hands, muscle weakness

Magnesium function

bone structure, enzyme cofactor (over 300 biochemical reactions, such as DNA, RNA, ATP, and nerve and muscle function)

higher blood Mg are linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease

Magnesium deficiency and toxicity

Alcoholism —> leads to low intake, impaired absorption and resorption
malabsorption —> secondary to intestinal diseases
High supplemental Ca or P —> decreases Mg bioavailability

magnesium toxicity

large supplements, symptoms —> diarrhea, cramping, heart failure

water

50-70 percent of body weight. proportional to lean body mass (more lean body mass, more water)

in cells (mainly) (intracellular), between cells (interstitial), blood (intravascular)

water functions

maintains blood pressure, solvent (dissolution fo nutrients and waste), lubricant (digesive juices, mucus for respiratory, skin, reproductive fluds), bodytemp (retains heat, high specific heat; sweating),and biochemical reactions (condensation, hydrolysis)

need a lot of heat to increase the temperature. of water

maintaining body temp

higher energy water molecules burn off and leave behind water molecules with low energy, making the body cooler

maintaining blood pressure

during dehydration, kidneys activate reni-angiotensin system, promoting NA and Cl retention (increased water absorpotion and blood pressure). Antidiuretic hormone decreases urine output, maintaing water homeostatsis.

water deficiency and toxicity

brain takes water, heart has to work harder, dehyration can lead to heat shock, kidney overload, digestive problems

children and older adults at risk

toxicity
hyponatremia:sodium level in the blood drops below normal during or after prolonged physical activity, usually due to excessive water intake, sodium loss through sweat, and impaired kidney water excretion. potentially FATAL