Minerals Lecture Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, classification, functions, and specific types of major and trace minerals as presented in the lecture.

Minerals

Inorganic elements that remain as ash when food is burned, are composed of only one type of atom, and combine with carbon-containing compounds when functioning in the body.

Essential Mineral

A mineral considered necessary if it performs at least 1 function that is vital for life, growth, or reproduction.

Microminerals (Trace Minerals)

Minerals essential for human nutrition that are present in amounts less than $100\,mg$.

Macrominerals

Essential minerals present in amounts greater than $100\,mg$, or found in more than $0.005\%$ of body weight ($50\,ppm$).

Calcium (Structural Functions)

Constitutes $99\%$ of body calcium, serves as an integral part of bone structure and acts as a calcium bank for the blood.

Calcium (Regulatory Functions)

Constitutes $1\%$ of body calcium; involved in blood clotting, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and the activation of calmodulin.

Calmodulin

A protein activated by calcium that relays messages from the cell surface to the inside of the cell to help maintain normal blood pressure.

Phosphorus

A mineral where $85\%$ is stored in the skeleton; it works with calcium for bone formation, forms part of $ATP$, and is essential for $DNA$ and $RNA$ structure.

Potassium

Maintains fluid and electrolyte balance, regulates heartbeat and blood pressure, supports muscle contraction, and plays a role in insulin release.

Sodium

Regulates blood pressure and blood volume, enables muscle contraction, and aids in the absorption of nutrients like glucose and amino acids.

Sulfur

A constituent of amino acids (methionine, cysteine, and cystine), vitamins (thiamin, biotin), and insulin; it also participates in detoxification reactions.

Magnesium

Acts as a cofactor for over $300$ enzymes, aids in $ATP$ synthesis, stabilizes electrical signals in the heart, and has $60\%$ of its body content stored in bones.

Chloride

A component of stomach acid ($HCl$) essential for digestion and killing microbes; it works with sodium and potassium to regulate fluid movement.

Iron

A component of hemoglobin and myoglobin involved in oxygen transport, energy metabolism in the mitochondria, and immune function.

Ferritin

The main iron storage protein found in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

Hemosiderin

The long-term storage form of iron in the body.

Heme Iron

Found in animal-based foods like red meat and poultry; it is well absorbed at a rate of approximately $15-35\%$.

Non-Heme Iron

Found in plant-based foods; absorption is lower ($2-20\%$) and is strongly influenced by enhancers like Vitamin C or inhibitors like phytates and tea.

Zinc

A trace mineral essential for growth and sexual maturation, gene expression, taste and smell perception, and insulin synthesis.

Selenium

An antioxidant that protects the brain against oxidative lipid damage and is essential for the synthesis and function of thyroid hormones.

Manganese

Functions as an antioxidant ($Mn-SOD$) and is involved in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as blood clotting.

Copper

An essential trace mineral occurring in cuprous ($Cu^+$) and cupric ($Cu^{2+}$) states; it is critical for iron metabolism and red blood cell formation.

Iodine

Essential for the production of thyroid hormones Thyroxine ($T_4$) and Triiodothyronine ($T_3$), which regulate basal metabolic rate.

Molybdenum

Facilitates redox reactions by cycling between oxidized ($Mo^{6+}$) and reduced ($Mo^{4+}$) states; helps neutralize toxic compounds like sulfites.

Cobalt

The central metal ion at the core of Vitamin $B_{12}$ (Cobalamin); necessary for normal maturation of red blood cells to prevent megaloblastic anemia.

Chromium

A component of the chromodulin molecule that enhances insulin receptor activity and sensitivity to maintain normal blood glucose levels.

Fluoride

Prevents dental caries by forming fluorapatite, a more acid-resistant form of tooth enamel, and inhibits the activity of Streptococcus mutans.