This presentation discusses the functions of micronutrients. It begins by defining nutrients and distinguishing between macronutrients and micronutrients. It then focuses on vitamins and minerals, which are the two main types of micronutrients. Various water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins are explained, including their functions. Major and trace minerals are also defined, with examples like calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc provided along with their roles in the body. Finally, the key vitamins and minerals found in breast milk are listed.

1. PRESENTAION ON
FUNCTIONS OF
MICRONUTRENTS
BY,
Maria Stephen
3rd year BSc Nursing
Coimbatore

2. OUTLINE
Nutrients
Macronutrients
Micronutrients
Vitamins
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Fat soluble vitamins
Minerals
Major Minerals
Trace minerals
Vitamins and minerals present
in breast milk

3. WHAT IS
NUTRIENTS ?
A substance that
provides
nourishment
essential for the
maintenance of life
and for growth.

4. MACRONUTRIENTS
Macronutrients are
nutrients that
provide calories or
energy and are
required in large
amounts to
maintain body
functions and carry
out the activities of
daily life.

5. MICRONUTRIENTS
Micronutrients are one of the major groups of
nutrients for our body needs.
VITAMINS MINERALS

7. Vitamins defined as organic compounds occurring in
small quantities in different natural foods and
necessary for growth and maintenance of good
health .
Vitamins are organic compounds that people need
in small quantities.
Most vitamins need to come from food because the
body either does not produce them or produces very
little.

8. VITAMINS
Water-Soluble Fat-Soluble

9. WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Dissolve easily in
water readily
excreted from the
body.

11. Vitamin B1
Thiamine, also known
as thiamine or vitamin B1, is
a vitamin found in food and
manufactured as a dietary
supplement and medication.

13. Functions of B1
Normal function of the nervous system
The production of energy from food
Synthesis of nucleic acid
Normal function of heart
Conduction of nerve impulses
Normal psychological functions
Maintain muscle tone in the digestive tract
Improve brain function by acting as a
neurotransmitters

14. Vitamin B2
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B₂, is a
vitamin found in food and used as a dietary
supplement

15. Functions of Vitamin B2
Maintaining the mucous membranes in the
digestive system
Healthy eyes,nerves,muscle and skin
The maintenance of normal red blood cells
Convert food (carbohydrates) in to glucose
Convert vitamin B6 and B9 into active forms
The reduction of tiredness and fatigue

16. Vitamin B3
Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is an
organic compound and a form of vitamin B₃, an
essential human nutrient. It can be
manufactured by plants and animals from the
amino acid tryptophan.

18. Functions of Vitamin B3
Increases HDL cholesterol
Lowers Triglycerides
Lowers LDL Cholesterol
May help prevent Heart disease
May help treat Type 1 Diabetes
Boosts bran functions
Improves skin function
May reduce symptoms of Arthritis
Treats Pellagra

19. Vitamin B6
Vitamin B₆ is one of the B vitamins, and thus
an essential nutrient. The term refers to a
group of chemically similar compounds,
"vitamers", which can be interconverted in
biological systems.

21. Functions of Vitamin B6
Improve mood
Promote Brain Health
Prevent and Treat Anemia
Be Useful in Treating Symptoms of
Premenstrual syndrome
Help Treat Nausea During Pregnancy
Reduce risk of Heart Disease
Help Prevent Cancer
Promote Eye Health

22. Vitamin B9
Folate, also known as vitamin B₉ and folacin, is
one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid,
which is converted into folate by the body, is
used as a dietary supplement and in food
fortification as it is more stable during
processing and storage.

24. Functions Of Vitamin B9
Helps tissues grow and cells work.
Works with vitamin B12 and vitamin C to help
the body break down, use, and create
new proteins.
Helps to form red blood cells
Helps produce DNA
Prevents Neural tube defects,Heart
dseases,Colon cancer.
Needed to release energy from amnoacides.

25. Vitamin B12
Vitamin B₁₂, also known as cobalamin, is a
water-soluble vitamin involved in the
metabolism of every cell of the human body. It
is a cofactor in DNA synthesis, and in both
fatty acid and amino acid metabolism
Naturally occuring organometallic compound
It is the only vitamin that contain metal
It is synthesised by microorganism

27. Functions of vitamin B12
keeps the healthy function of our brains and nervous
system
Helps to form Red Blood Cells
Helps to form genetical materals.(RNA&DNA)
Helps to balance the level of homocystiene in the
blood
It is needed in general somatic cell metabolism
Important role in the metabolism of fatty acid and
aliphatic acid
It is needed for the mylenation of the nerves

28. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a vitamin found in various
foods and sold as a dietary supplement.
It is used to prevent and treat scurvy.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient
involved in the repair of tissue and the
enzymatic production of certain
neurotransmitters.

30. Functions of Vitamin C
Helps the body to make collagen
Needed for the growth and repair of tissues
Needed for healing wounds and for
repairing and maintaing bones and teeth
Act as antioxidents
Helps in the synthesis of cortco-
steroid hormone
Prevents Scurvy
Enhances the absorption of iorn

31. Vitamin H
Vitamin H, more commonly known as biotin, is
part of the B complex group of vitamins. All B
vitamins help the body to convert food
(carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is
used to produce energy. These B vitamins,
often referred to as B complex vitamins, also
help the body metabolize fats and protein.

33. Functions of Vitamin H/B7
Preventing oxidative damage
Strengthening the hair from the root to the tips
Improving nail quality
Controlling the release of insuli
Improving the cognitive functioning of the brain
Reduces muscle cramps and pain during dialysis
It is also beneficial for improving vision
Promoting the health of the baby in pregnant women
and even after birth.

35. Why they are called as fat soluble
vitamins?
It is soluble in organic solvents and are absorbed and
transported in a manner similar to that of fats.
Examples of fat soluble vitamins are
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K

36. Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a group of
unsaturated nutritional
organic compounds that
includes retinol, retinal,
and several provitamin A
carotenoids.

37. Functions of Vitamin A
Essential for vision
Role in reproduction and growth
Leads to the maintenance of epithelial cells
It enhance immunity to infection
It causes stabilization of cellular and
intracellular membrane
Helps in synthesis of glyco proteins
It is also important for the embryonic
development and the regulation of adult
genes

38. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-
soluble secosteroids responsible
for increasing intestinal
absorption of calcium,
magnesium, and phosphate, and
many other biological effects. In
humans, the most important
compounds in this group are
vitamin D₃ and vitamin D₂

39. Functions of vitamin D
Essential for Strong bones and teeth
Improves heart function
Enhances brain development
Provides anticancer effects
Strengthens muscular function
Strengthens the immune system
Increase Intestinal absorption of calcium and
phosphate.

40. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a group of
eight fat soluble
compounds that include
four tocopherols and
four tocotrienols.

41. Functions of vitamin E
Inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation
Maintenance of normal endothelial cell
function
Regulation of enzymes,transcription,factors
and receptors
Inhibit platelets aggregation
Enhances vasodilation
Protect the fat in LDL from oxidation

42. Vitamin k
Vitamin K refers to
structurally similar,
fat-soluble vitamers
found in foods and
marketed as dietary
supplements

43. Functions of vitamin K
It has role in immune functioning and
produces energy
It acts as Antioxidants
Helps in blood clotting
Helps in absorption of Calcium in bones
Necessary for formation of prothrombin
Essential for normal liver functioning
Helps in reducing excessive menstrual flow

46. In the context of nutrition, a mineral is a
chemical element required as an essential
nutrient by organisms to perform functions
necessary for life

48. Minerals
Major
Minerals
Trace
Minerals

49. Major Minerals
The major minerals, which are used and stored in large
quantities in the body.
They are:
Sodium
Chloride
Potassium
Calcium
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Sulphur

50. Sodium Helps in cell uptake
nutrients and water
Helps muscles to
contract
Encourage our nerves to
carry messages between
the brain and the body
Balance body fluids and
regulate blood pressure

51. Chloride
Balance body fluids and regulate
blood pressure
Helps the cells to take in and out
nutrients and water
Helps to muscle contract
Helps to digest foods
Oxygenation of our bodies
Maintain water distribution,Osmotic
pressure, Anion-cation balance,
Maintains electrical neutrality

52. Mineral Function Sources
Calcium Important for healthy bones and
teeth; helps muscles relax and
contract; important in nerve
functioning, blood clotting,
blood pressure regulation,
immune system health
Milk and milk products; canned
fish with bones (salmon,
sardines); fortified tofu and
fortified soy milk; greens
(broccoli, mustard greens);
legumes
Phosphorus Important for healthy bones and
teeth; found in every cell; part of
the system that maintains acid-
base balance
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk,
processed foods (including soda
pop)

53. Potassium Needed for proper fluid
balance, nerve transmission,
and muscle contraction
Meats, milk, fresh fruits and
vegetables, whole grains,
legumes
Magnesium Found in bones; needed for
making protein, muscle
contraction, nerve transmission,
immune system health
Nuts and seeds; legumes; leafy,
green vegetables; seafood;
chocolate; artichokes; "hard"
drinking water
Sulfur Found in protein molecules;
Build and fix DNA; Protect cells
from Damage; Assist to
metabolize food
meats, poultry, fish, eggs, milk,
legumes, nuts

54. Trace minerals
Trace minerals, also called micro minerals,
are essential minerals that the human body
must get from food, but, unlike macro
minerals, we only need a very small amount.
Even though trace minerals are needed in tiny
doses, they are still crucial to our health and
development
They are: Iron,Selenium,Fluoride,Zinc,Iodine
Manganese,Chromium,Molybdenum,Copper

55. Iron
Formulation of haemoglobin
Binding O2 to RBC and transport
Regulation is body temperature
Brain development and function
Thyroid function
Muscle activity
Important for healthy pregnancy
Role in energy metabolism

56. Iodine
Support thyroid’s function
Regulate overall metabolism
Support Healthy growth and
development
Maintain energy levels
Regulate body temperature
Increase heart rate
Nutrient digestion and
absorption

57. Mineral Function Sources
Zinc Part of many enzymes;
needed for
making protein and genetic
material; has a function in
taste perception, wound
healing, normal fetal
development, production of
sperm, normal growth and
sexual maturation, immune
system health
Meats, fish, poultry, leavened
whole grains, vegetables
Selenium Antioxidant; DNA synthesis;
Thyroid hormone metabolism
Meats, seafood, grains

58. Copper Part of many enzymes; needed
for iron metabolism; To form
RBC; Help to keep blood
vessels,nerves, immune
system,and bone healthy.
Legumes, nuts and seeds,
whole grains, organ meats,
drinking water
Manganese Part of many enzymes; Control
sugar level,Maintain thyroid
health, Improve metabolism
and digestion
Widespread in foods,
especially plant foods
Fluoride Involved in formation of bones
and teeth; helps prevent tooth
decay
Drinking water (either
fluoridated or naturally
containing fluoride), fish, and
most teas

59. Chromium Works closely with insulin to
regulate blood sugar
(glucose) levels, Helps in
immune function and
growth,Breakdown of fats
and carbohydrates
Unrefined foods, especially
liver, brewer's yeast, whole
grains, nuts, cheeses
Molybdenum Part of some enzymes, Stay
healthy, breakdown drugs
and toxic substances that
enter the body
Legumes; breads and grains;
leafy greens; leafy, green
vegetables; milk; liver

61. Vitamins & Minerals present in breast milk
Vitamins
B1,B2,B6,B12,C (Wat
er soluble vitamins )
Vitamins A,D,E,K (Fa
t soluble vitamins )
Calcium, Phosphoru
s, Magnesium (Majo
r Minerals )
Iron, Copper, Zinc, I
odine (Trace Mineral
s )

63. THANK YOU