Mineral Nutrients

Abstract

Minerals that are essential to life are the source of metals and other inorganic elements involved in the most fundamental processes. For example, oxygen is utilized in the human body with the help of metal complexes. The human skeleton is composed of calcium and phosphorus and traces of other metals. The regulation of body‐fluid volume and acid‐base balance requires sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Several vitamins contain sulfur, one contains cobalt. Hormones contain iodine, sulfur, and zinc. States of dynamic equilibrium exist for the various mineral nutrients as well as mechanisms whereby a system can adjust to varying amounts of these minerals in diet. In forms usually found in foods, most mineral nutrients are not toxic when ingested orally. RDAs (recommended dietary allowances) can generally be eaten without concern for safety. The essential minerals are classified as either principal elements or trace and ultratrace elements. Principal elements are calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and magnesium, Trace and ultratrace elements are iron,fluorine, zinc, copper, boron, selenium, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, cobalt, tin, vanadium, nickel, and arsenic. All are discussed in this article.