Anatomy and Physiology Minerals

Function of mineral elements?

1. structural component of teeth bones

2. Cofactors for enzymes

3. constituent of essential components in body (Fe in HB, I in Thyroxine, Co in B12, S in Methionine and biotin, Mo in Xantine Oxidase)

4. Constituent of body fluids like blood, interstitial fluid, and intracellular fluid. (Help osmotic pressure, normal blood pH, and transmission of nerve impulses.)

Mineral deficiencies in animals come from?

1. suboptimal amount in feed

2. imbalance of another mineral which decreases absorption

3. increasing rate of passage through gut or body scours

4. metabolic antagonist causing animal to require more dietary mineral to overcome antagonism.

Excretion routes for minerals

1. feces

2. urine

3. both routes

4. sweat

5. Fe+ lost due to blood loss

   etc. polyps (leaky gut)

Chelation

chelating agent or chelator will bind a mineral to varying degrees.

CALCIUM

adequate Ca and P in nutrition depends on:

1. sufficient supply of Ca and P

2. Suitable ration between two 1:1 - 2:1

3. presence of vitamin D

   (99% Ca and 80% P in bones and teeth)

   (bone represents 1% Ca in soft tissues like blood serum, muscle, and tissues)

5 Functions of Calcium

1. blood clotting

2. neuromuscular activity

3. enzyme activator

4. osmoregulator

5. maintain acid-base equilibrium of body fluids

Calcium Deficiency

• hyperirritability and tetany

• reduced growth

• poor reproductive performance

• rickets

• osteomalacia

PHOSPHOROUS

• most important mineral

• 80% P in bone

• kidneys play important role in phosphorous balance

functions of phosphorous

1. bone formation

2. phosphorylation’s in CHO metabolism

3. energy transfers -NAD, NADP

4. constituent of ATP

5. constituent of nucleoproteins, phosphoproteins, DNA, RNA, phospholipids

Phosphorous Deficiency

• decreased growth

• decreased bone growth

• rickets or osteomalacia

• pica (fragile bones, laminitis)

MAGNESIUM

70% body supply in skeleton

30% in body fluids and tissues

magnesium functions

• bone formation

• enzyme activator (pyruvate)

• nerve irritability

Magnesium Deficiency

• vasodilation

• hyper-irritability

• convulsions

• death

• grass tetany

• coma

• trembling

• loss of appetite

SULFUR

• most present in free amino acids, CYS and MET and plasma membrane

• constituent of cartilage from chondroitin sulfate

sulfur functions