Fluids, Electrolytes & Nutrition: Minerals
General Physiology
Definition
- Mineral Definition: Essential Inorganic Micronutrients
- Types:
- Macrominerals: Body Requires Larger Amounts (> 100 mg/Day)
- Trace Minerals (Microminerals): Body Requires Smaller Amounts (< 100 mg/Day)
- Ultra-Trace Minerals: Body Requires Minimal Amounts (< 1 mg/Day)
Macrominerals
- Sodium (Na)
- Chloride (Cl)
- Potassium (K)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Phosphorous (P)
- Sulfur (S)
- *See Electrolytes
Trace Minerals
- Iron (Fe)
- Zinc (Zn)
- Copper (Cu)
- Fluoride (F)
- Iodine (I)
- Manganese (Mn)
Ultra-Trace Minerals
- Chromium (Cr)
- Selenium (Se)
- Cobalt (Co)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
- Arsenic (As)
- Boron (B)
Trace Mineral Deficiency
Iron (Fe)
- Effects:
- Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) – Microcytic
- Pica (Compulsion to Eat Non-Food Substances) & Ice Craving
- Lethargy
- Developmental Delay
- Causes:
- Blood Loss
- Deficiency in Diet
- Bariatric Surgery & Gastric Bypass
- Pregnancy
- Iron Studies:
- Serum Iron – Measure of Serum Iron
- Low in Iron Deficiency & Anemia of Chronic Disease
- Transferrin – Proteins That Bind & Transport Iron in Blood
- Increased in Iron Deficiency but Decreased in Anemia of Chronic Disease
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) – Measure of the Amount of Iron Which Can Be Bound to Transferrin, Directly Proportional to Transferrin (TIBC = Transferrin x 1.389)
- Transferrin Saturation – Ratio of Serum Iron to TIBC (Iron/TIBC x 100)
- Ferritin – Intracellular Protein That Stores Iron
- A Small Amount is Secreted into Plasma – What is Measured
- Also Acts as an Acute Phase Reactant (Elevated in Inflammatory Processes & Anemia of Chronic Disease)
- May Be Low in Iron Deficiency Although Can Be Falsely Normal-Elevated
- Serum Iron – Measure of Serum Iron
Zinc (Zn)
- Effects:
- Hypogonadism
- Dwarfism
- Impotence
- Alopecia
- Skin Lesions – Erythematous Pustular Lesions of Extremities
- Poor Wound Healing
- Dysgeusia (Loss of Taste)
- Causes:
- Malnutrition
- Chronic Alcoholism
- Bariatric Surgery & Gastric Bypass
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) with Inadequate Supplementation
Copper (Cu)
- Effects:
- Fragile Hair
- Skin Depigmentation
- Muscle Weakness
- Ataxia & Peripheral Neuropathy
- Pancytopenia (Anemia, Neutropenia or Thrombocytopenia)
- Causes:
- Malnutrition
- Bariatric Surgery & Gastric Bypass – Most Common Cause
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) with Inadequate Supplementation
Fluoride (F)
- Effects:
- Dental Carries
- Causes:
- Inadequate Source in the Diet – Community Drinking Water is Often Fluorinated to Supplement
Iodine (I)
- Effects:
- Goiter
- Hypothyroidism
- Intellectual Disability & Cretinism
- Causes:
- Inadequate Source in the Diet, Non-Iodized Salt
- Pregnancy
Manganese
- Effects:
- Scaly Dermatitis
- Dyslipidemia
- Causes:
- Highly Restricted Diets – Extremely Rare in Humans
Ultra-Trace Mineral Deficiency
Chromium (Cr)
- Effects:
- Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Patients Mn
- Causes:
- Chronic Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) with Inadequate Supplementation
Selenium (Se)
- Effects:
- Muscle Dysfunction
- Cardiomyopathy Mn
- Mood Disorders
- Causes:
- Inadequate Source in the Diet
- Chronic Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) with Inadequate Supplementation
Mnemonic
Effects of Ultra-Trace Mineral Deficiencies
- “Chrome Dome” – Fat Bald Guy with Diabetes
- Chromium Deficiency Has Hyperglycemia
- Beautiful Selene (Goddess of the Moon) Breaks Hearts
- Selenium Deficiency Has Cardiomyopathy
