1. Physiological roles of minerals
Dr. Siham Gritly
Dr. Siham Gritly 1

2. glossary
• extracellular fluid: fluid outside the cells.
Extracellular fluid includes two main components;
the interstitial;- fluid between cells usually high in
sodium and chloride and the intravascular fluid of
plasma. Extracellular fluid accounts for
approximately one-third of the body’s water.
• Interstitial fluid: fluid between the cells
(intercellular), usually high in sodium and chloride.
Interstitial fluid is a large component of extracellular
fluid.
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3. • Ions; atoms or molecules that have gained or
lost electrons and therefore have electrical
charges. Examples include the positively charged
sodium ion (Na+) and the negatively charged
chloride ion (Cl–).
• Cations; positively charged ions.
• Anions; negatively charged ions.
• electrolytes: salts that dissolve in water and
dissociate into charged particles called ions.
• electrolyte solutions: solutions that can conduct
electricity.
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4. Homeostasis -a term used to describe a condition
of normalcy in the internal body environment
• Osmotic pressure- is the amount of pressure
required to oppose osmosis (water movement)
into a solution across semi-permeable membrane.
• Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-
permeable membrane
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5. Chemical symbols of major minerals
• K = potassium
• P = phosphorus
• Mg = magnesium
• S = sulfate
• Na = sodium
• Cl = chloride
• Fe = iron
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6. Cations (positively charged ions) of human
fluids
• Cation;
-a positively charged ion or electrolyte; sodium,
potassium, calcium and magnesium (extracellular
fluid)
sodium, potassium, magnesium (intracellular
fluid)
• Sodium (Na+)
• Potassium (K+)
• Calcium (Ca++)
• Magnesium (Mg++)
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7. Anions (negatively charged ions) of human
fluids
Anion;
-a negatively charged ion or electrolytes; chloride,
bicarbonate, phosphate, sulfate, protein and organic
acids (extracellular fluid). chloride, bicarbonate,
phosphate and protein (intracellular fluid)
• Chloride (Cl−)
• Bicarbonate (HCO3−)
• Phosphate (HPO4=)
• Sulfate (SO4=)
• Organic acids (lactate, pyruvate)
• Proteins
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8. Minerals
• Are inorganic regulators needed for different functions
inside the body.
• Do not provide energy but involved in generation of energy
through their metabolic function
• provide a good medium for the protoplasmic activities
(permeability of cells membrane and normal functioning of
the cell, irritability of muscle and nerve cells
• maintaining body fluid balance (osmotic pressure)
• regulation of acid-base balance
• for structural units (bones and teeth
• haemoglobin and thyroxin formation
• some are cofactors in the enzymatic reactions
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9. Physiological functions of minerals
• growth and development (used in building
blocks for body tissues such as bones, teeth,
muscles or act as main components of
hemoglobin)
• They are found in compounds essential for the
functioning of the body, e.g., iodine in thyroxin,
zinc in insulin, Cobalt in Vitamin B12, sulphur in
thiamine and iron in hemoglobin.
• As constituents of soft tissues, such as tissue
protein, cell bodies and muscles, they are
responsible for their proper functioning.
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10. • metabolic regulation; include enzymes
known as metalloenzymes such as the
cytochrome enzymes in mitochondria that
facilitate ATP production
• and other as zinc and copper which are part of
the natural antioxidant enzymes
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11. • As constituents of body fluids,
• They contribute to the osmotic pressure of
body fluids.
• Sodium salts and potassium salts are present in
the intracellular fluids that influence their
osmotic pressure.
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12. • maintenance of neutrality in blood and body
tissues, this is by;
• preventing the accumulation of too much acid
or alkali.
• The chief base forming elements are sodium,
potassium, calcium and magnesium.
• The acid forming elements are chlorine,
phosphorus and sulphur.
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13. • Calcium, Potassium and Sodium maintain the
normal rhythm in- heart beat.
• They help nerves in maintaining a normal
response to stimuli-especially by Calcium.
• They are essential for clotting of blood.
Calcium is responsible for clot formation.
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14. • Minerals classified into;
• 1-macrominerals; required in excess
(100mg/day); sodium, magnesium, phosphorous,
sulfur, chlorine, potassium and calcium
• 2-microminerals; required in less than
100mg/day
essential trace elements are manganese, iron,
cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium,, and iodine
additional to boron, chromium, fluoride, and
silicon.
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15. Electrolytes
• Electrolytes are the electrically charged minerals that
when dissolved in water or another solvent, forms or
dissociates into ions (electrically charged particles
conduct electric current).
• Electrolytes are distributed throughout the fluid
compartments of the body. The solution is known as
electrolyte solution
• Common electrolytes are bases, acids and salts
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16. the major electrolytes are in body fluids are sodium,
potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, magnesium
and calcium.
• When dissociate form ions particles carrying a
positive (cation) or negative (anion) electric charges
– Cations – carrying a positive electric charge
• Na+, K+ , Ca2+, H+
– Anions – carrying negative electric charge
• Cl-, HCO3- , PO43-
• Non-electrolytes - Uncharged
• Proteins, urea, glucose, O2, CO2
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17. Electrolyte balance
• Electrolytes (charged minerals) in the fluids
help distribute the fluids inside and outside the
cells, thus ensuring the appropriate water
balance and acid-base balance to support all
life processes.
• Excessive losses of fluids and electrolytes
disturb these balances, and the kidneys play a
key role in restoring homeostasis.
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18. • In all electrolyte solutions, anion and cation
concentrations are balanced (the number of
negative and positive charges are equal).
• If an anion enters the fluid, a cation must
accompany it or another anion must leave so
that electrical neutrality will be maintained.
• Thus, whenever sodium (Na+) ions leave a
cell, potassium (K+) ions enter, moving,
opposite directions.
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19. Minerals with special functions;
Macro-minerals
metabolic role of sodium, potassium & chloride
• Important role in;
• -electrical neutrality
• -osmotic pressure
• -acid-base balance
• Na˖ is the majorcation of extracellular fluids
• K⁻ is intracellular fluids
• Cl⁻ is the major anion in extracellular fluid
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20. • *Sodium is an Extracellular cation (Na+) (about 90%),
functions in the regulation of ATP-dependent channels
with potassium. These channels are referred to as Na+/K+-
ATPases and their primary function is in the transmission
of nerve impulses in the brain.
• Level in blood controlled by aldosterone, ANP, and ADH.
• 1-In the case of sodium, excessive sodium can cause
hypernatraemia,
• and low sodium levels can cause hyponatraemia
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21. • *Potassium (K+) is major intracellular cation
• Almost the presence of (K+) found in the cells
• About 2% found in extracellular fluid
• a key circulating electrolyte
• involved in the regulation of ATP-dependent
channels along with sodium.
• These channels are referred to as Na+/K+-ATPases
• Na+/K+ Adenosine triphosphate pump actively
transports Na+ out of the cells and K+ into the
cells in a 3:2 ratio to maintain the difference in
Potassium content between ECF and ICF
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22. • Potassium maintain the intracellular;-
• -osmotic pressure
• -water balance
• -acid-base balance
• -Cofactor for several glycolytic enzymes
• -transmission of nerve impulses
• -activity and synthesis of nuclear and protein
depend of the presence of potassium
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23. • Potassium level in the plasma may cause;
• 1-hyperkalameia; increase serum K in the
plasma
• 2-hypokalameia; decrease serum level in the
plasma
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24. • Chlorine (Cl⁻) present as chloride ion. It is the
major anion in the extracellular fluid
• Main function;
• -regulate water balance (osmotic pressure and
acid base) as it is the part of NaCl
• -nerve impulse conduction
• -hydrochloric acid formation in the stomach
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25. • Plasma level of chloride change might cause;
• abnormal metabolism of Na+ & Cl⁻ that might
lead to;-
• 1-hyperchloraemia
• 2-hypochloremia
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26. Macro-minerals
metabolic role of calcium, phosphorous &
magnesium
• Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium for cell metabolism,
and as structural units (bone and teeth)
• Calcium (Ca++) a common electrolyte carrying positive
electrical charge (cation).
• Calcium present in intracellular and extracellular fluid
• About 99% of body calcium is in the bone, the rest in the
ECF.
• Nearly 50% of body calcium is ionized (free), whereas the
remainder is complexes to albumin(40%) and anions such
phosphate (10%)
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27. • Function of intracellular calcium;
• -muscle contraction
• -release of hormones (neurotransmitter &
neuromodulators
• -activation of some enzyme
• -Inter in glycogen metabolism
• -cell division
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28. • Function of extracellular calcium
• -maintain extracellular fluid calcium
concentration
• -bone mineralization
• -blood coagulation
• -membrane excitability
• -muscle contraction
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29. • Phosphorous
• Phosphorous is required in the synthesis of nucleic
acids and high-energy compounds such as ATP.
• It is also important in the maintenance of pH balance.
• Act as part of a major buffer system (phosphoric acid
and its salts).
• Phosphorus is also part of DNA and RNA and is
therefore necessary for all growth.
• Many enzymes and the B vitamins become active
only when a phosphate group is attached.
• The high-energy compound ATP uses three phosphate
groups to do its work.
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30. • Lipids containing phosphorus as part of their
structures (phospholipids) help to transport other
lipids in the blood.
• Phospholipids are also the major structural
components of cell membranes, where they control
the transport of nutrients into and out of the cells.
• Some proteins, such as the casein in milk, contain
phosphorus as part of their structures
(phosphoproteins
• parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulate phosphorous
balance.
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31. • Magnesium (Mg++) : a cation within the
body’s cells, active in many enzyme systems
• More than half of the body’s magnesium is in the
bones.
• Much of the rest is in the muscles and soft
tissues, with only 1 percent in the extracellular
fluid.
• As with calcium, bone magnesium may serve as a
reservoir to ensure normal blood concentrations.
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32. • Magnesium is necessary for energy metabolism. It
participates in hundreds of enzyme systems.
• A major role of magnesium is as a catalyst in the
reaction that adds the last phosphate to the high-
energy compound ATP, making it essential to the
body’s use of glucose;
• Involved in the synthesis of protein, fat, and nucleic
acids; and the cells’ membrane transport systems.
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33. • Together with calcium, magnesium is involved
in muscle contraction and blood clotting:
calcium promotes the processes, whereas
magnesium inhibits them.
• This dynamic interaction between the two
minerals helps regulate blood pressure and
lung function.
• supports the normal functioning of the immune
system
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34. • Aldosterone controls magnesium
concentrations in the extracellular fluid.
• Low Mg++ levels result in an increased
aldosterone secretion, and the aldosterone
increases Mg++ reabsorption by the kidneys
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35. Minerals with special functions;
Micro-minerals
metabolic role of cobalt Co, copper Cu, fluorine F, iodine I2,
iron Fe, manganese Mn, chromium Cr, zinc Zn, selenium Se
• cobalt (Co); central in corrin ring of
vitamin B12
• Deficiency result in pernicious anemia of
vitamin B12
• Revision of vitamin cyanocoblamin B12 is
required
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36. • Chromium (Cr) needed in small amount
which is essential for certain biological
function such as;-
• -control of glucose and lipid metabolism
• -as cofactor for insulin in increasing glucose
utilization and transport of amino acids into
cells
• -lower cholesterol level
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37. • Manganese (Mn) is involved in reactions of
protein and fat metabolism, promotes a healthy
nervous system, necessary for digestive
function, bone growth, and immune function.
In addition, manganese is necessary for the
proper function of super oxide dismutase
(SOD) which is an enzyme required for
preventing super oxide anions from damaging
cells.
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38. • Copper (Cu) is involved in the formation of red
bloods cells, the synthesis of hemoglobin
• Involve in oxidation reduction reactionsas it is an
integral comonent of many metalloenzume
includingcytochrome oxidase, superoxide
dimutase, tryptophan dioxygenase, ferroxidase-
• iron absorption through ferroxidase that oxidize
ferrous ion to ferric ion.
• Copper is also involved in the proper processing
of collagen (the most abundant protein in the
body) and thus, is important in skin, bone, and
connective tissue production.
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39. • Iodine (I2) is required for the synthesis of the
thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine T3 and
tetraiodothyronine T4)
• Deficiency leads to cretinism in children and
goiter in adult
• Cretinism;- deficiency during pregnancy lead
to neonatal hypothyrodism which result in
cretinism in children characterized by mental
retardation, dwarfism, retarded development
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40. • Goiter characterized by enlargement of
thyroid gland, and impairment of thyroxin
production
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41. • Iron (Fe), synthesis of haem compound such
as haemoglobin, myoglobin, chytochromes,
catalase and peroxidase
• stored in the body as ferritin or haemosiderin
• Ferritin is the main iron storage compound
(liver, spleen and bone)
• The protein compound of ferritin is apoferritin
• Deficiency lead to low heamoglobin resulting
in;-hypochromic microcytic anaemia
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42. • Selenium (Se) constituent of glutathione
peroxidase which has antioxidant function
• antioxidant protects the cell membrane against
oxidative damage by H2O2
• This function is important in preventing lipid
oxidation and protect cell against superoxide
free radicals
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43. • Zinc (Zn) is found as a co-factor in over 300
different enzymes and thus is involved in a wide
variety of biochemical processes.
• Zinc interacts with the hormone insulin to ensure
proper function and thus this trace mineral has an
important role in regulation of blood glucose
levels via insulin action.
• Zinc also promotes wound healing, regulates
immune function, serves as a co-factor for
numerous antioxidant enzymes, and is necessary
for protein synthesis and the processing of
collagen
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44. sulfur for three essential amino acids and therefore
many proteins (skin, hair, nails, liver, and
pancreas)
• Sulfur has a primary function in amino acid
metabolism but is also necessary for the
modification of complex carbohydrates present in
proteins and lipids, however, it should be noted
that in this latter function the sulfur comes from
the amino acid methionine.
• Function as cofactors or regulators of enzyme
function
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• Sons, New York, 1995
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Human Metabolism, fifth ed. WADSWORTH
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W.B. Company
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Exploring Life. Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall
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Y
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