Definition of Minerals – This book covers the entire syllabus of “Nutrition and Dietetics” prescribed by BNMC-for all Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery students. We tried to accommodate latest information and topics. This book is examination friendly setup according to the teachers’ lectures and examination’s questions. At the end of the book previous university questions are given. We hope in touch with the book students’ knowledge will be upgraded and flourished. The unique way of presentation may make your reading of the book a pleasurable experience.
Definition of Minerals
In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a chemical element required as an essential nutrient by organisms to perform functions necessary for life. Minerals originate in the earth and cannot be made by living organisms. Plants get minerals from soil. Most of the minerals in a human diet come from eating plants and animals or from drinking water. As a group, minerals are one of the four groups of essential nutrients, the others of which are vitamins, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.
The five major minerals in the human body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. All of the remaining elements in a human body are called “trace elements”. The trace elements that have a specific biochemical function in the human body are iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, and selenium.
Most chemical elements that are ingested by organisms are in the form of simple compounds. Plants absorb dissolved elements in soils, which are subsequently ingested by the herbivores that eat them, and the elements move up the food chain. Larger organisms may also consume soil (geophagia) or use mineral resources, such as salt licks, to obtain limited minerals unavailable through other dietary sources.
Mineral:
More than 50 chemical elements are found in the human body, which are required for growth, repair and regulation of vital body functions are called minerals.
Or
Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties.
(Ref: T. K. Indrani/1/46)
Distribution of minerals in the body:
For good health mineral is very essential. Mineral forms four percent (4%) of body weight.
| Calcium | Percentage in the body |
| Mineral | 2% |
| Phosphorus | 1% |
| Others | 1% |
Classification of Mineral:
The body needs minerals in small amounts to help chemical processes, and to build tissues and fluids. These can be divided into three major groups
| Major minerals: | These are present in the body in large amounts and the daily requirement of man to maintain the optimum nutrition is appreciable. Calcium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium etc., are included within this group. |
| Trace elements: | These are elements required by the body in quantities of less than a few milligrams per day, e.g., iron, iodine, fluorine, zinc, copper, cobalt, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, nickel, tin, silicon, and vanadium. |
| Trace contaminants with no known function: | These include lead, mercury, barium, boron and aluminium. |
(Ref: T. K. Indrani/P/46)
Macro and micro minerals:
| Macro minerals | Micro minerals |
|
|
Importance of Minerals/Functions of Minerals:
1. Formation of bones and teeth.
2. Maintenance of osmotic pressure of body fluids
3. Maintenance of acids base balance
4. Maintenance of tone of muscles and nerves
5. Some minerals are needed for specific functions like –
- Iron for the formation of Hemoglobin (Hb)
- Sodium for the formation of thyroxin
- Cobalt as the constituent of vitamin B12
- Zinc as the constituent of an enzyme
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