Biochemical Role / Dietary Daily Requirement Deficiency
Minerals (RDA)
Function Source Effects
Milk, yogurt, Children:700–1000mg
Bone & teeth formation,
Calcium cheese, tofu, Adolescents: 1300 Rickets, osteoporosis,
muscle contraction, nerve
(Ca) almonds, sardines, Adults: 1000 tetany
transmission, blood clotting Elderly: 1200 mg
spinach
Impaired glucose
Chromium Enhances insulin action, Whole grains, nuts,
25–35 µg/day tolerance,
(Cr) glucose metabolism broccoli, meat
hyper glycemia
Cofactor in enzymes, RBC Liver, nuts, Anaemia, bone
Copper (Cu) formation, collagen shellfish, cocoa, 900 µg/day abnormalities, poor
synthesis, iron metabolism whole grains immunity
Haemoglobin & myoglobin Meat, liver, eggs, Men: 8 mg/day Microcytic anaemia,
Iron (Fe) formation, oxygen transport, spinach, legumes, Women: 18-27 mg/day fatigue,
energy metabolism fortified cereals developmental delays
Thyroid hormone synthesis,
Iodized salt, Goitre, cretinism,
Iodine (I) metabolism, growth, brain 150 µg/day
seafood, dairy, eggs hypothyroidism
development
Green leafy
Cofactor in enzymatic Muscle cramps,
Magnesium vegetables, nuts,
reactions, muscle & nerve 310–420 mg/day arrhythmias,
(Mg) seeds, whole
function, bone structure weakness
grains, legumes
Bone & teeth formation,
Phosphorus Milk, meat, eggs, Bone pain, weakness,
ATP/DNA/RNA synthesis, 700 mg/day
(P) fish, nuts, legumes poor growth
acid-base balance
Keshan disease
Antioxidant defence, Brazil nuts,
Selenium (cardiomyopathy),
thyroid hormone seafood, meat, 55 µg/day
(Se) muscle weakness,
metabolism, immunity cereals
oxidative stress
Growth, immunity, Growth retardation,
Meat, shellfish,
DNA/RNA synthesis, hair loss, poor wound
Zinc (Zn) legumes, seeds, 8–11 mg/day
enzyme cofactor, wound healing, immune
nuts
healing, taste dysfunction
TOPIC 5: MINERALS
(Biochemical role of Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Iodine, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Selenium
and zinc, Their dietary source daily requirements and deficiency diseases)
Minerals (RDA)
Function Source Effects
Milk, yogurt, Children:700–1000mg
Bone & teeth formation,
Calcium cheese, tofu, Adolescents: 1300 Rickets, osteoporosis,
muscle contraction, nerve
(Ca) almonds, sardines, Adults: 1000 tetany
transmission, blood clotting Elderly: 1200 mg
spinach
Impaired glucose
Chromium Enhances insulin action, Whole grains, nuts,
25–35 µg/day tolerance,
(Cr) glucose metabolism broccoli, meat
hyper glycemia
Cofactor in enzymes, RBC Liver, nuts, Anaemia, bone
Copper (Cu) formation, collagen shellfish, cocoa, 900 µg/day abnormalities, poor
synthesis, iron metabolism whole grains immunity
Haemoglobin & myoglobin Meat, liver, eggs, Men: 8 mg/day Microcytic anaemia,
Iron (Fe) formation, oxygen transport, spinach, legumes, Women: 18-27 mg/day fatigue,
energy metabolism fortified cereals developmental delays
Thyroid hormone synthesis,
Iodized salt, Goitre, cretinism,
Iodine (I) metabolism, growth, brain 150 µg/day
seafood, dairy, eggs hypothyroidism
development
Green leafy
Cofactor in enzymatic Muscle cramps,
Magnesium vegetables, nuts,
reactions, muscle & nerve 310–420 mg/day arrhythmias,
(Mg) seeds, whole
function, bone structure weakness
grains, legumes
Bone & teeth formation,
Phosphorus Milk, meat, eggs, Bone pain, weakness,
ATP/DNA/RNA synthesis, 700 mg/day
(P) fish, nuts, legumes poor growth
acid-base balance
Keshan disease
Antioxidant defence, Brazil nuts,
Selenium (cardiomyopathy),
thyroid hormone seafood, meat, 55 µg/day
(Se) muscle weakness,
metabolism, immunity cereals
oxidative stress
Growth, immunity, Growth retardation,
Meat, shellfish,
DNA/RNA synthesis, hair loss, poor wound
Zinc (Zn) legumes, seeds, 8–11 mg/day
enzyme cofactor, wound healing, immune
nuts
healing, taste dysfunction
TOPIC 5: MINERALS
(Biochemical role of Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Iodine, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Selenium
and zinc, Their dietary source daily requirements and deficiency diseases)
