Homocysteine, cardiovascular disease risk
factor?
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The Major Minerals:
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorous
Potassium
Calcium
Main Functions:
- Major component of bone, required for bone
formation
- Required for cell transport
- Required for nerve cell functioning
- Essential in muscle functioning
- Important for normal blood clotting
Interactions: Efficient absorption of calcium
requires Vitamin B12, therefore a deficiency
of calcium could arise by poor vitamin B12
status. Vitamin D also aids absorption. Calcium
and magnesium also interact in normal cell
function.
Disease Implications
- Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) can
arise from deficiency of calcium. Adequate calcium intakes reduces risk
of developing the disease.
- All normal bone function affected by calcium
deficiency.
- Deficiency results in Rickets in children.
- Tiredness and Muscular dysfunction results
from low calcium.
- In excess, calcium causes diseases of the
kidney; development of kidney
stones.
Magnesium
Main Functions:
- Essential for normal muscular function and
normal heart rhythm
- Essential for bone mineralization and growth
- Acts as co-factor for a host of enzymes
- Essential for vitamin C and calcium metabolism
Interactions: works in conjunction with calcium,
sodium, potassium in normal cellular function;
Vitamin B2 known to affect the interaction
between magnesium and calcium
Toxicity not an issue.
Disease Implications:
- Deficiency leads to problems with heart,
kidney, high blood pressure.
- Nerves and muscles affected by low magnesium.
- Deficiency also leads to mental confusion,
and stress.
- As the relative magnesium and calcium levels
are important for normal cellular process, an imbalance in these minerals
leads to serious complications, including muscle problems and cardiovascular problems
Phosphorous
Main Functions:
- Necessary for healthy bone and teeth. Bone
is made up of more than 80 % phosphorous.
- An important component of energy producing
molecules.
- Essential for growth .
- Component of phospholipids
Interactions: Vitamin B6 helps maintain proper levels of phosphorous.
Phosporous retention in kidney can result from vitamin D deficiency. Phosphorous
helps body utilize calcium. Zinc affects phosphorous bioavailability.
Disease Implications:
- Deficiency symptoms include muscular weakness,
defect in growth.
- Deficiency also leads to defective bone function
and can contribute to arthritis
- Alcoholism can cause deficiency.
- Although deficiency gives rise to serious
impairment of function, deficiency is relatively
rare for this mineral as dietary intakes normally provides enough phosphorous.
Potassium
Main Functions:
- Required for normal cellular transport of
nutrients
- Essential for normal muscle functioning
- Necessary for healthy heart and kidney function
- Essential for fluid homeostasis
- Necessary for nervous system functioning
Interactions: Works with calcium, sodium
and magnesium in cellular function
Disease Implications:
- Deficiency leads to muscular weakness and
lethargy.
- Deficiency also leads to poor growth
- Cardiac disturbance in potassium deficiency.
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