This document summarizes the six major nutrients needed for life and growth: water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins. It describes the key functions of each nutrient, including that water accounts for 70% of body composition and is essential for transport and biochemical reactions, carbohydrates provide energy and are converted to fat, proteins are needed for cell structure, repair, and hormone/enzyme synthesis, and fats store energy and are components of cell membranes and carriers of fat-soluble vitamins. Minerals and vitamins also support various metabolic processes.

1. Nutrients and their functions
Dr. P. Ravikanth Reddy
MVSc, PhD
Guest Faculty
KBR College of Agriculture and Horticulture
Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University
Dr. YSR Horticulture University

2.  A substance that provides nourishment essential for the
maintenance of life and for growth.
 Nutrients are elements or chemical compounds that support
the life processes by maintaining healthy body function.
 Nutrition is important, because
 To obtain and utilize feed stuffs & convert them to
desirable products such as meat, milk, eggs, fiber and work.
 To maintain the productivity.
 To maintain Positive energy balance

3. The six nutrients needed are:-
1.Water
2. Carbohydrates (Simple and Complex carbohydrates)
3. Protein
4. Fats
5. Minerals
6. Vitamins

4.  Accounts 70% of the body composition
 As intracellular fluid – 2/3rd of the total water
 As extracellular fluid – Plasma and interstitial fluid
 Maintains body temperature
 Transport of nutrients and wastes
 All the biochemical and physiological reactions takes place
in aqueous medium (Metabolism)
 Maintains osmosis
 Maintains acid base balance
WATER

6.  Should be provided in abundant
 Cheapest energy source
 Converted and stored as fat
 For production of volatile fatty acids (Acetate, propionate,
and butyrate)
 Supplies keto-acids for synthesis of non-essential amino
acids.
 For synthesis of glycolipids and vit C.
 Glucose to brain tissues.
CARBOHYDRATE

8.  Synthesis of cell protoplasm
 Repair of wear and tear
 Synthesis of hormones and enzymes
 Milk casein (milk protein)
 Energy supply (In case of CHO deficiency)
 Precursor for biological compounds
 Immunity (Antibodies)
 Muscle growth
 Structural compounds
PROTEIN
All enzymes and majority of hormones are proteins

10. Milk protein synthesis

11.  Stored energy
 Component of biological membrane Lipid-bilayer
 Carrier of fat soluble vitamins (ADEK)
 As electron carriers
 As neuronal sheath - Neurotransmission
 Insulating - subcutaneous fat
 Cholesterol, sex hormones, and steroids
 Supply essential fatty acids (Linoleic, alpha linolenic, and
arachidonic acids)
 Provide satiety
FATS

12. Essential

13. VITAMINS
Main function of B vitamins – Energy metabolism