Types of Minerals
There are many different types of minerals essential to your body's well-being. Your body requires some
minerals in large quantities, like calcium, while other minerals are only needed in trace elements. However,
never judge the importance of the mineral based on your body's requirement. Some of the minerals only needed
in trace elements are critical to the body's organ functioning and important processes, such as bone and
muscle development.
Here is a list of the main type of minerals your body needs and the effects of their
deficiency:
Calcium
This mineral is essential for building and maintaining healthy bones, muscle contraction and blood clotting
mechanism. Calcium is also essential to build healthy teeth. Calcium deficiency symptoms include muscle aches and
pains, muscle twitching and spasm, muscle cramps and reduced bone density. Vitamin D is essential for proper
calcium absorption and utilization.
A serious lack of calcium can cause rickets in children and osteoporosis in adults. Both
conditions cause softening and weakening of the bones and can result in proneness to fractures. Many postmenopausal
women are especially likely to have calcium deficiency because of the reduction in estrogen during this period in
their lives.
Estrogen helps to keep calcium in the bones. Women, particularly older ones, need to supplement
their diets with calcium. Calcium and vitamin D are important for maintaining bone density and reducing the risk of
fractures. In elderly, ambulatory, white women over the age of 65 who were not using estrogen replacement,
supplementation of calcium and vitamin D produces a significant improvement in bone density and reduction of
fractures.
Through a combination of diet and vitamin supplements, women receiving hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) should get
at least 1200 mg/d of calcium, while the goal should be 1500 mg/d for women not receiving HRT. Recommendations for
vitamin D intake are now 400 IU/d for women aged 51 through 70, and 600 IU/d for those over 70 years of age.
Various groups like children and teenagers, those on restricted diets (avoiding dairy products), the elderly,
vegans and those concerned about osteoporosis also have higher needs for calcium.
Chromium
Chromium is essential to the processes that make glucose available for energy. It is also important for the
metabolism of amino acids, which are the ‘building blocks’ of proteins, and fats. Deficiency symptoms include
glucose intolerance or insulin resistant hyperglycaemia (excess sugar in the blood), raised serum lipids and weight
loss. Studies have shown that chromium helps to lower blood sugar in individuals with type II Diabetes.
Seniors (over 55) plus those who exercise regularly as this may increase the loss of chromium from the body in
urine, and will need chromium supplementation. Note, however, that some chromium supplements contain yeast, which
can interfere with certain prescription medicines. Individuals with diabetes should only take chromium under
medical supervision. Chromium is unsuitable for pregnant or breast-feeding women, or for epileptics.
Copper
People require copper for proteins involved in growth, nerve function and energy release. It is vital for the
formation of some important proteins. It is a critical functional component of a number of essential enzymes, known
as cuproenzymes. Two copper-containing enzymes, ceruloplasmin (ferroxidase I) and ferroxidase II are involved in
iron metabolism. Copper is stored in appreciable amounts in the liver. It also has anti-oxidant properties and
involved in the regulation of gene expression.
One of the most common clinical signs of copper deficiency is an anemia that is unresponsive to iron therapy but
corrected by copper supplementation. The anemia results from defective iron mobilization. Copper deficiency may
also result in abnormally low numbers of white blood cells, which can make you susceptible to infections and unable
to combat them when they occur.
Iodine
There are some interesting iodine facts surrounding this
essential trace mineral. Iodine is an important component of many bodily functions, though large
quantities are not required to carry out these crucial efforts. In fact, iodine is thought to be such an important
mineral that the US government came up with an ingenious way to ensure Americans get an adequate supply:
Legislation recommending that iodine be added into table salt was passed.
Iron
A majority of the iron in our body is stored in the bone marrow that makes blood cells. When
there is not enough iron in the bloodstream, the body uses the bone marrow reserves. If this iron stored in the
bone marrow is low, red blood cells do not form properly. They are smaller than usual (microcytosis) and
fewer. Due to this deficiency, less hemoglobin is available to transport oxygen throughout the body. Unfortunately,
iron-deficiency anemia is the leading nutritional deficiency in the world and the most common type of anemia.
In America, approximately 5% of females and 2% of males have iron-deficiency anemia.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include fatigue, dizziness, irritability, headaches, difficulty
concentrating, shortness of breath during exercise, a pale appearance, brittle nails, and cracked lips.
However, it is important not to take too much iron supplement. Besides the risk of constipation, a recent
study reported in Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that women who store too much iron in their
body may be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays an important role in the structure and the function of the human body, involved in
more than 300 essential metabolic reactions, including energy production. The adult human body contains about 25
grams of magnesium. Signs of magnesium deficiency include low calcium, hence the diseases associated with it, low
serum potassium levels (hypokalemia), retention of sodium, low circulating levels of parathyroid hormones (PTH,)
neurological and muscular symptoms such as tremors, muscle spasms, tetany, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and
personality changes.
Manganese
This is a mineral element that is both nutritionally essential and potentially toxic. It is involved in bone
development, wound healing, and it has anti-oxidant properties. It is also actively involved in the metabolism of
carbohydrates, amino acids and cholesterol. Signs of manganese deficiency include impaired growth, impaired
reproductive function, skeletal abnormalities, impaired glucose tolerance, and altered carbohydrate and lipid
metabolism.
Potassium
Potassium, another of the body's major minerals, is a member of the electrolyte family.
One of the most important roles and benefits of potassium
is its ability to control how the nerves and muscles act.
As one of the body's largest muscles, the heart relies on a steady supply of potassium and the
other electrolytes to keep it beating rhythmically around the clock. This mineral is also what controls the
creation as well as the storage of the muscles' main source of fuel, glycogen. Potassium assists in the process of
converting glucose, or blood sugar, into glycogen.
Providing the body with a constant supply of potassium is critical to maintaining the function of the nervous
system and circulatory system. This can effectively be achieved through a combination of eating the
proper foods (learn the potassium content in
food) and taking a mineral supplement. The dangers of
low potassium levels are many and can easily be avoided.
Other Trace Minerals
Other trace minerals such as Molybdenum, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc play important roles in
our health and well-being and their deficiencies can create a variety of health problems for us. Thus, iodine lack
can cause goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland and its associated symptoms and an important health problem
throughout much of the world.
A good nutritional multivitamin supplement including minerals is the foundation of good
health and nutrition and will supply your needs for a well-balanced supply of minerals. A high quality
solid or liquid nutritional multivitamin supplement (with minerals) can be located online at one of the
many discount vitamin and mineral retailers at some of the lowest prices found anywhere. We don't think
you can beat that combination - high quality and low price!
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