The document discusses essential minerals and trace elements, highlighting their significance for human health, particularly iron, iodine, fluorine, and zinc. It details the daily requirements, functions, deficiency impacts, and sources of these elements, emphasizing the crucial role they play in metabolic processes and overall well-being. Specific conditions related to deficiency, such as anemia from iron lack and goitre from iodine deficiency, are noted as prominent health concerns.

1. Minerals and trace
elements
Mr. Hussein Hassan Mohamud

2. Seven Food Substances
Food Substances
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Water
Dietary Fibre Minerals
Vitamins
Fats

3. Minerals
Approximately 50 chemical elements are
identified
Important for Growth, Development , regulation
of vital functions
Major : calcium, Phosphorous, Sodium,
Potassium, Magnesium
Minor: Required less than a few milligram per
day. Ex. Iron, Iodine, Fluorine, Zinc, Copper,
Cobalt, Chromium, Manganese, Molybdenum,
Selenium, Nickel, Tin, Silicon, Vanadium

4. Trace elements
 A naturally occurring, homogeneous, inorganic
substance required in humans in amounts less
than 100 mg/day
Excess amounts are important to health

5. Iron
Adult human body contains 3-4 Gm
60-70% is present in Blood and rest in storage form.
Each Gm of Hb contains 3.34mg of Iron.
Requirement :
1 mg per day for Male
2.5 mg for Females
3.5 mg for Females in Physiological stress
conditions

6. Functions of iron
Iron is a part of all cells and has many different
functions
Hb Carries oxygen to the tissues
Brain development along with Folic acid
Myoglobin Facilitates oxygen use and storage in
muscles
An integral part of enzyme reactions in various tissues
( Cyotchromes, Catalases, etc)
Regulation of body temperature
Catecholamine metabolism
Susceptibility to infection

7. Iron loss
In adults – 1 mg per day
Menstruating women – 2 mg per day
Hemorrhages are common causes
Stored in Liver, Spleen, Bone marrow,
Kidneys

8. Iron Deficiency
Occurs in 3 stages:
First Stage: Decreased storage
without any other detectable
abnormalities
Second Stage: stores are exhausted,
serum Ferritin level decreases.
Third Stage: Decrease in Hemoglobin

9. Iron
Signs of iron deficiency anemia include:
Fatigue
Headache
Cardiovascular stress
Poor tolerance to heavy blood loss

10. Evaluation of iron status
1. Hemoglobin Concentration: relative index
of iron deficiency. ( early Anemia if Hb is
10-11g% & marked anemia Hb is < 10g
%).
2. Serum Iron concentration: useful index
( Normal 0.8 to 1.8mg /L)
3. Serum Ferritin level: Gold standard &
sensitive tool for evaluation and reflects the
size of the iron status ( < 10Micrgms/L)
4. Serum Transferrin Saturation: 16% - 30%

11. Iodine
Essential Micronutrient
Body normally has 20-30 mg of iodine and more than
75% is in the thyroid gland,
rest is in the mammary gland, gastric mucosa, and blood
it’s only function is related to thyroid Hormone
Required for synthesis of thyroid hormone
 Thyroxin (T4) – 4 atoms of iodine per molecule
 Triiodothyronine (T3) – 3 atoms of iodine per molecule
Requirement per day is 150 micrograms

12. Iodine
Food Sources – 90% intake
Foods of origin (sea-foods), processed foods,
iodized salt
Fresh Water – small & Variable
Small amounts in Milk, meat, Vegetables, Cereals
etc.

13. Iodine - Absorption and Excretion
Iodine is absorbed in the form of iodide
occurs both as free and protein-bound iodine in
circulation
iodine is stored in the thyroid where it is used for
the synthesis of T3 and T4
hormone is degraded in target cells and in the
liver and the iodine is conserved if needed
excretion is primarily via urine
small amounts from bile are excreted in the feces

14. Iodine - deficiency
 Goitre—enlargement of the thyroid gland, goiters are more
prevalent in women and with increased age
 deficiency may be absolute—in areas of deficiency,
 or relative—adolescence, pregnancy, lactation
 Iodine deficiency is the world’s most prevalent cause of brain
damage
 Serious iodine deficiency during pregnancy may result in
stillbirths, abortions and cretinism
 the less visible, more pervasive form of iron & iodine
deficiency that lowers intellectual performance at home and
school may have far greater global and economic impact

15. Fluorine
It is found in combined forms
96% of fluorides in the body found in bone and teeth.
An essential for normal mineralisation of bones and
formation of dental enamel
Source:
Drinking water : Fluorine in the drinking water is
0.5 mg per ltr. Excess of fl > 3mg causes flourosis.
Foods: Sea fish, cheese, Tea
It is a two edged sword ( deficiency or excess)

16. Zinc
 Adult body contains 1.4 to 2.3 gms of Zinc
 Plasma level- 96Microgm per 100 ml ( adults), 89
Microgram per 100 ml (children)
 Functions are;
 Active role in metabolism of glucose and proteins
 Synthesis of insulin by pancreas
 Immunity functions
Food sources :
 meat, milk, fish
 Plant sources have low bioavailability

17. Zinc
One of the ten biggest factors contributing to
diseases related to nutrition in developing countries
 Zinc interventions could reduce child deaths
globally by 63%
 South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa highest
risk of zinc deficiency:
 Inadequate intake – 1/3 of the population
 40% of pre-school children
Zinc used as a (part of) curative intervention for
severe malnutrition and diarrhea

18. Zinc deficiency
 Growth failure
Sexual infantility in adolescents, loss of taste, delayed
wound healing, decrease in immuno synthesis.
Spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, congenital
malformations.
LBW, Intra Uterine deaths, premature labour.
Daily Requirement
is 15mg for men
 12 mg for women, 10mg for children