Minerals

Calcium

1.) Component of bone, muscle contraction and nerve regulation

2.) Vitamin D → gut → blood

3.) calcitonin (thyroid) → blood → bone

4.) PTH: BONE → blood (parathyroid)

5.) deficiency: rickets or osteomalacia

6.) toxicity: decreased muscle tone, calcium deposits in soft tissue, renal failure

7.) found in milk, leafy greens, canned fish with bones

Phosphorus

1.) component of bones, ATP And nucleic acids

2.) regulated by kidneys

3.) deficiency: rickets or osteomalacia (renal failure)

4.) toxicity may lead to bone loss

Sodium

1.) H2O distribution, osmosis, Action potential, bicarb

2.) regulated by Aldosterone

3.) deficiency: hyponatremia (confusion and coma)

4.) toxicity: hypertension (extracellular)

Potassium

1.) nerve and muscle action potential (intracellular)

2.) regulated by aldosterone

3.) deficiency: caused by diuretics, muscle weakness

4.) toxicity: cardiac arrest

Chlorine

1.) acid-base blood, H2O balance

2.) deficiency: secondary to vomiting

Magnesium

1.) component of bones, Co-factor for KINASE, needed for glucose breakdown

2.) deficiency: diabetes, hypertension, increased blood cholesterol, spasms blood vessels

3.) toxicity: miners, neuro symptoms like parkinsons

4.) found in most plants

Chromium

1.) glucose transport —> helps bind insulin to cell

2.) deficiency: impaired glucose tolerance

Cobalt

1.) constituent of Vitamin B12

2.) deficiency: Macrocytic (pernicious) anemia

Copper

1.) Part of Cytochrome A Oxidase (ETC)

2.) transported by albumin, melanin formation

3.) Deficiency: MENKE’s syndrome (hereditary, CNS, die in infancy)

Iodine

1.) part of thyroxine

2.) stored as thyroglobulin in thyroid

3.) Deficiency: Cretinism in children; goiter and myxedema in adults

Iron

1.) Part of heme enzymes, hemoglobin, cytochromes

2.) transported as TRANSFERRIN and stored as FERRITIN

3.) Deficiency: Hypochromic microcytic anemia

4.) found in meat, liver, clams, oysters, tofu, egg yolk

Manganese

1.) cofactor for DECARBOXYLASE

2.) hemoglobin, forms urea, growth and reproduction

3.) Deficiency: ligamentous healing

Selenium

1.) Cofactor for GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE

2.) synergistic with Vitamin E

3.) Deficiency: cardiomyopathy

4.) toxicity: hair/nail loss

Zinc

1.) Cofactor for CARBONIC ANHYDRASE

2.) toxicity: metal fume fever → neuro damage

3.) Deficiency: impaired wound healing; found in pumpkin seeds

Fluorine

1.) Increases hardness of teeth

2.) Excess = mottled teeth

3.) deficiency: dental caries