Minerals

Minerals are non-organic nutrients that are extremely important for the body. The organism cannot produce them itself, so they must be supplied through the diet. Minerals themselves, like vitamins, are not energy carriers, i.e. they make no or only an insignificant contribution to energy metabolism. Some minerals are toxic in their elemental form (e.g. chlorine), but essential as a compound - chloride, e.g. in sodium chloride (table salt). When subdivided according to tasks, a distinction is made between building and regulating substances. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are building materials, while iodine, sodium, potassium, iron and chlorine are regulators. However, some minerals have both properties at the same time. Phosphorus, for example, is involved in building bones and teeth and at the same time in regulating the acid-base balance. Minerals are also referred to as bulk elements. In contrast to trace elements, they are present in relatively high concentrations in the body: They are present at more than 50 mg per kg body weight (dry mass).

Examples of quantity elements:

• Calcium (Ca)
• Chlorine (Cl)
• Potassium (K)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sodium (Na)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Sulfur (S)

The main components of our food, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, are not sufficient on their own to ensure a healthy diet. In addition, certain components are necessary, which must be supplied to our body in minute quantities, since it cannot produce them itself. In addition to vitamins and minerals, the so-called trace elements are important for many functions, although they are only present in the body in very low concentrations (less than 50 mg/kg body weight). When subdivided according to tasks, a distinction is made between building and regulating substances. Calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are building materials, while iodine, sodium, potassium, iron and chlorine are regulators. However, some minerals have both properties at the same time. Phosphorus, for example, is involved in building bones and teeth and at the same time in regulating the acid-base balance. Finally, there is the division into essential and non-essential minerals, i.e. vital and non-essential. For some minerals, however, it is unclear whether they perform vital functions in the body. While iodine and iron, for example, are certain to be essential minerals, this is still unclear in the case of boron.

Examples of trace elements:

• Arsenic (As)
• Boron (B)
• Chromium (Cr)
• Iron (Fe)
• Fluorine (F)
• Iodine (J)
• Cobalt (Co)
• Copper (Cu)
• Lithium (Li)
• Manganese (Mn)
• Molybdenum (Mo)
• Nickel (Ni)
• Selenium (Se)
• Silicon (Si)
• Vanadium (V)
• Zinc (Zn)

It is true for all trace elements that a lot does not help much, rather the opposite: As valuable as they are for the healthy organism, an overdose can be dangerous for many. Arsenic or selenium poisoning and copper storage disease are just some of the possible problems. Some minerals are in a functional control loop and influence each other, for example sodium and potassium, which act as counterparts in nerve signal conduction. Some are components of hormones, such as iodine in thyroid hormone. Others, such as some bulk elements, dissolved as electrolytes in the form of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, ensure electroneutrality in the body fluids between the tissues and the maintenance of osmotic pressure. They are readily available to the organism primarily in certain compounds, such as sodium and chlorine in the form of table salt or zinc in the form of zinc chelate.