Minerals are chemical substances found in body tissues and fluids that serve important structural and regulatory functions. Calcium is among the most abundant minerals, making up 1.5-2% of body weight and found mainly in bones and teeth. It is essential for bone and tooth formation, blood clotting, heart and muscle contraction, and nerve function. Calcium absorption depends on factors like vitamin D, intestinal pH, and dietary fats and fibers. Deficiencies can lead to rickets, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. Iodine is needed for thyroid hormone synthesis and is obtained mainly through seafood, milk, and iodized salt. Iodine deficiency can cause goiter and cretin

1. MINERALS

2.  Minerals are chemical substances found in
body tissues and fluids.
 More than 50 minerals are found in the human
body but a few (24) minerals are associated
with clearly recognizable clinical situation in
man.
 Minerals do not provide energy but they are
essential for growth, repair and regulation of
body fluids and many other functions.

3. Minerals are present in the body as
follows:
 Components of organic compounds.
Ex- haemoglobin contains iron and thyroxin contains
iodine.
 As inorganic compounds.
Ex- Calcium phosphate in bones and teeth
 As free ions in every cell of the body
Ex: In all fluids as soluble salts

4. Classification of minerals:
 Major minerals:
Ex- Calcium, Phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, potassium,
magnesium and sulphur.
 Minor minerals:
Ex- Iron and manganese
 Trace elements:
Ex- Iodine, Zink, Fluorine etc

5. General functions of minerals:
 Minerals form the structural components of bones, teeth, soft
tissues, blood and muscles.
Ex- Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
 They regulate activity of nerves with regard to stimuli and
contraction of muscles. Ex-Calcium
 Maintain acid base balance of body fluids. Ex- Sodium and
chlorine
 They control water balance by means of osmotic pressure
and permeability of cell membranes. Ex-Sodium and
potassium.
 They are constituents of vitamins. Ex-thiamine contains
sulphur and cyanocobalamin contains cobalt.
 They form part of molecules of hormones and enzymes. Ex-
iodine in thryroxine and zinc in insulin.
 They activate enzymes
 They are necessary for clotting of blood. Ex-calcium

6. Calcium
 Among the different mineral calcium occurs in
the highest amounts in the body. It constitute
1.5 to 2% of body weight.
 About 99% of the calcium is present in the
skeleton and the remaining 1% in soft tissues.

7. Functions of calcium
 It is essential for formation of bones and teeth.
 It is essential for the clotting of blood
 It maintains permeability of the capillary walls.
 It is essential for the contraction of the heart
and muscles
 It regulates the excitability of nerve fibres and
nerve centres

8. Calcium balance
 Absorption:
 About 20-30% of dietary calcium is normally absorbed.
 The dietary calcium which is not absorbed in the intestine is excreted in the
faeces. A small part of the absorbed calcium is excreted in urine.
 Factors affecting calcium absorption:
 Vitamin D
 Lactose
 Intestinal PH
 Proteins
 Fats and fatty acids
 Fibre
 Oxalic acid
 Phosphates and phytic acid

9.  Dietary sources of calcium:
 Milk and milk products: Milk, curd, Milk Powder, Cheese. etc
 Ragi, Seasame seed, Amaranth, Carrot leaves, drum stick
leaves, Small fish dried etc
 Requirements of calcium:
 Adults: 400 mg to 500 mg /day
 Pregnant and lactating woman: 1000mg/day
 Infants: 500mg/day
 Children 10-15 years: 600mg/day

10. Deficiency of Calcium
 Rickets: Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of
vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It leads to softening and
weakening of the bones potentially leading to fractures and
deformity.
 Osteomalacia: Osteomalacia is softening of the bones
 Osteoporosis: This is a disease in which bones become
porous due to lack of calcium. There is increased
susceptibility to fractures.
 Tetany: a decrease in serum calcium level gives rise to
condition called tetany. The symptoms of tetany are severe
muscular spasm, especially of hands and feet. Twitching of
facial muscle.

12. SODIUM CHLORIDE
 Sodium is the only mineral which is taken in
more or less pure form in addition to amount
present in natural foods.
 Adult body contains 100 gm of sodium which
is present in the ECF of the body.

13. Functions:
 It regulates the acid base balance of the body
 It maintains fluid balance and normal osmotic pressure
between ECF and ICF
 Play role in originating and maintaining heart beat
 Helps in muscle contraction
 Requirements:
 Children: 5-10 gm
 Adult: 15-20 gm(average worker), 20-25 gm (heavy
worker)
 Deficiency: Weakness and Muscle cramps
 Excess: Edema and hypertension

14. POTASSIUM
 It present as the major electrolyte in body
 Adult human body contains about 250 gm of
potassium
Functions:
 It regulates the acid base balance
 Regulates osmotic pressure
 Contraction of muscle tissues
Sources: all Green leafy vegetables and cereals
Deficiency: Weakness, Muscular cramps

15. IRON
 Iron is of great importance in human nutrition
 The adult human body contains 3-4 gm of iron
 Each gram of haemoglobin contains about 3-
3.4 mg of iron

16. Functions:
 The central function of iron is oxygen transport
and cell respiration
 It is an essential part of several oxidative
enzymes.
 Necessary for formation of haemoglobin, brain
development, regulation of body temperature
and muscle activity.
 It facilitates the complete oxidation of
carbohydrates, proteins and fats within the
cells

17. Absorption:
 Iron is mostly absorbed from duodenum and
upper small intestine in the ferrous state
according to the body needs.
 Iron in the ferric state will have to be reduced
in ferrous state before absorption
 Vitamin C and Gastric juice help in converting
ferric iron to ferrous iron, thus enhances the
absorption of iron
 Excess of calcium, phosphates, phytates,
oxalates, interferes in the absorption of iron.

18. Requirement
 Infant : 1mg/kg of body weight
 Adult : Male – 28 mg, Female 30 mg
 Pregnancy : 40 mg
 Lactation : 30mg
Sources:
Haem Iron: Liver meat, fish and poultry
Non Haem iron: Vegetable origin;
cereals, green leafy vegetables,
legumes, oil seeds, dried fruits and
jaggery

19. Deficiency:
 Nutritional Anaemia: Decreased concentration
of circulating haemoglobin less than 9 gm/dl
 Signs and symptoms: Fatigue, pallor skin,
breathlessness , poor appetite, retarded
growth and development
 Reduced resistace to infection and decreased
work performance.

20. National Nutritional Anaemia
Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP)
 Nutritional anaemia is a major public health
problem in India. The NNAPP was started in
1970.
 Objectives :
 The programme aims at significantly decreasing the prevalence
and incidence of anaemia in women in reproductive age group,
especially pregnant and lactating women, and preschool
children.
 Beneficiaries :
 The scheme beneficiaries are children in 1-5 years of age,
pregnant and nursing mothers, female acceptor of terminal
methods of family planning and IUDs.

21.  Activities :
 The programme focuses on the following
activities:
 1) Promotion of regular consumption of foods rich in iron.
 2) Supply of iron and folate supplements in the form of tablets
(folifer tablets) to the target group.
 3) Identification and treatment of severely anaemic cases. The
recommended daily dosages of iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets is as
follows:
 Adult women : 60 mg elemental iron + 0.5 mg folic acid
 Children (1-5 years) : 20 mg elemental iron + 0.1 mg folic acid.
 One tablet of iron and folic acid daily for 100 days is provided.

22. IODINE
•Iodine is an essential micronutrient.
•It is required for the synthesis of the thyroid
hormones, Thyroxin (T4) and Tri-idothyronine (T3).
•Thyroid hormones regulate the rate of oxidation
within the cells and influence physical and mental
growth, functioning of nervous and muscle tissues,
circulatory activity and metabolism of all nutrients.
•An adult’s body contains 50 microgram of iodine.
•About one third of the iodine is found in the thyroid
glands where it is stored in the form of thyroglobin.

23. Functions
 It is essential for synthesis of T3 and T4
hormones.
 It regulates the rate of oxidation in the cell and
determines the rate of metabolism.
 It is also essential for physical and mental
growth.

24. Requirement
 Infants = 40-50 micrograms
 Childrens (2-10 Years) = 100-120 micrograms
 Above 10 years and adults = 150 mgm
 Pregnant and Lactating women = 170-200
mgm

25. Sources of Iodine
 Good sources
Sea foods – Fish, Salt and Cod liver oil
 Other Sources
Milk, meat, fresh water, vegetables and
cereals.

26. Deficiency disorders
 Iodine deficiency occurs in those areas in
which the iodine content of soil is low and no
provision is made for supplying iodized salt.
 WHO estimated that upto 200 million people
throughout the world may be affected.

27. Goitre
 If intake of iodine is
inadequate, the stores
of thyroxin are gradually
depleted and the thyroid
gland enlarges in an
attempt to produce the
necessary thyroxin. This
enlargement is called
goitre.

28.  Cretinism: This condition
occurs in infants when
the pregnant women are
severely depleted in
iodine.
 This is severe condition
characterized by a low
BMR, muscular
flabbiness, weakness,
dry skin, enlarged
tongue, thick lips, arrest
of skeletal growth and
severe mental
retardation.

29. Others:
 Increased rates of spontaneous obortions and
still births
 Neurological cretinism: Deafness and mutism
Prevention:
Using iodized salt

30. "National Goitre Programme
(NGCP)"
 The important objectives and components of National Iodine
Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) are as
follows:-
 Surveys to assess the magnitude of the Iodine Deficiency
Disorders.
 Supply of iodated salt in place of common salt.
 Resurvey after every 5 years to assess the extent of Iodine
Deficiency Disorders and the impact of lodated salt.
 Laboratory monitoring of iodated salt and urinary iodine
excretion.
 Health education & Publicity.

31. Calcium
 Among the different mineral calcium occurs in
the highest amounts in the body. It constitute
1.5 to 2% of body weight.
 About 99% of the calcium is present in the
skeleton and the remaining 1% in soft tissues.

32. Functions of calcium:
 It is essential for formation of bones and teeth.
 It is essential for the clotting of blood
 It maintains permeability of the capillary walls.
 It is essential for the contraction of the heart
and muscles
 It regulates the excitability of nerve fibres and
nerve centres

33. Calcium balance:
 Absorption: About 20-30% of dietary calcium is
normally absorbed. The dietary calcium which is not
absorbed in the intestine is excreted in the faeces. A
small part of the absorbed calcium is excreted in
urine.
 Factors affecting calcium absorption:
Favorable Factors:
 Vitamin D: It is essential for the absorption of
calcium
 Intestinal PH : Calcium is well absorbed at the
normal PH of the intestines. If the contents becomes
alkaline, calcium absorption is lowered due to the
formation of insoluble tricalcium phosphate.
 Proteins: Higher levels of proteins in the diet help to
increase the absorption of calcium.

34. Unfavorable Factors
 Phosphates and phytic acid: Excess of
phosphates lowers calcium absorption. Phytic
acid forms insoluble calcium salts and interferes
with the absorption of calcium.
 Fats and fatty acids: Faulty absorption of fats
interferes with calcium absorption.
 Fibre: Presence of excess fibre in the diet
interferes with the absorption of calcium
 Oxalic acid: Oxalic acid present in certain foods
forms insoluble calcium oxalate which is excreted
in the faeces, thus lowering the calcium
absorption.

35. Dietary sources of calcium:
 Milk and milk products: Milk, curd, Milk
Powder, Cheese. etc
 Ragi, Seasame seed, Amaranth, Carrot
leaves, drum stick leaves, Small fish dried etc
Requirements of calcium:
 Adults: 400 mg to 500 mg /day
 Pregnant and lactating woman: 1000mg/day
 Infants: 500mg/day
 Children 10-15 years: 600mg/day

36.  Deficiency of Calcium:
 Severe deficiency of calcium in children leads to rickets and osteomalacia and
osteoporosis in adults.
 Rickets: Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It
leads to softening and weakening of the bones potentially leading to fractures and
deformity.
 Symptoms
 Bone pain or tenderness
 Dental deformities
 Delayed formation of teeth
 Decreased muscle tone (loss of muscle strength)
 Defects in the structure of teeth; holes in the enamel
 Increased cavities in the teeth (dental caries)
 Progressive weakness
 Impaired growth
 Increased bone fractures
 Muscle cramps
 Short stature (adults less than 5 feet tall)
 Skeletal deformities
 Asymmetrical or odd-shaped skull
 Pelvic deformities
 Spine deformities (spine curves abnormally, including scoliosis or kyphosis)


37. Osteomalacia: Osteomalacia is softening of the bones.
Symptoms
 Bone fractures that happen with very little injury
 Muscle weakness
 Widespread bone pain, especially in the hips
Osteoporosis: This is a disease in which bones become
porous due to lack of calcium. There is increased
susceptibility to fractures.
Tetany: a decrease in serum calcium level gives rise to
condition called tetany. The symptoms of tetany are
severe muscular spasm, especially of hands and feet.
Twitching of facial muscle.
Treatment: Balanced diet with sufficient amount of
calcium. One gram of calcium along with vitamin D should
be given regularly.

38. Fluorine
 Fluorine is the most abundant element in
nature and is the normal constituent of the
body.
 About 90% of the fluoride in the body is found
in bones and teeth.

39. Functions:
 Fluorine is essential for the
normal mineralization of bones
and formation of dental enamel.
Requirement:
0.5 mg/ litre of water
Sources:
Drinking water and foods such as
Sea fish, eggs, cheese, tea and
milk

40. Fluorosis:
Prolonged ingestion of fluorides
through drinking water in excess
of the daily requirement is
associated with dental and
skeletal fluorosis
Dental fluorosis: Is also known as
mottling of teeth.
 It occurs in parts of the world where
drinking water contains excessive
amounts of fluorines.
 Enamel becomes dull and chalky white
patches with secondary infiltration of
yellow or brown staining are found on
the surface of the teeth.

41.  Skeletal fluorosis:
There is increased
density and
hypercalcification of the
bones of the spine,
pelvis and limbs.
The ligaments of the
spine become calcified
and producing a ‘Poker
back’.

42. Deficiency of fluorine
 A deficiency of fluorine
results in dental caries and
is seen in areas where
drinking water contains
less than 0.5 mg of fluorine
per litre.

43. Other trace elements
Zink:
Is a component of many enzymes
Is present in small amounts in all tissues
Body contains 1.4 to 2.3 g of Zinc
Functions:
 Is essential for the synthesis of insulin by the pancreas
and for the immunity function
 Is a constituent of many enzymes (Alkaline phosphatase)
 Is a constituent of insulin

44. Requirement:
15mg for adults, 3-5 mg for infants and 10-15mg
for children
Sources:
Both animal and vegetable foods, meat, milk and
fish etc
Deficiency:
 Growth failure
 Delayed wound healing
 Loss of taste
 Liver disease, thalassaemia and myocardial
infarction.

45. Copper
 Is widely distributed in nature
 Is a constituent of several enzymes and is found
as a complex with some protiens in blood.
 Adult body contains 100-150 mg of copper.
Requirement:
Adult: 2.2 micro gram/day
Pregnancy and lactation: 3 mg/day
Deficiency:
Is very rare
Neutopenia

46. Cobalt
 Is occurs in small amounts in all tissues, highest
concentration occurring in liver and kidneys.
 Is present in vitamin B12
 There is no evidence as yet of cobalt deficiency
in man

47. Chromium:
 It plays an important role in carbohydrate, lipid and
protein metabolism.
 Total body content of chromium is small, less than 6mg.
Deficiency:
Impaired growth, disturbances in glucose, lipid
and protein metabolism
Selenium:
Its deficiency may with vitamin E deficiency
reduces antibody production.