ABSTRACT
Inorganic nutrients are animal or plant tissue com-
ponents which remain in the ashes after foods are
incinerated. Inorganic elements and their compounds are
involved in the metabolism of living organisms.
Complexes between organic molecules and cations
participate in different biological activities and play
important metabolic functions. Mineral elements participate in the control of the
osmotic balance and themaintenance of the potential of
cellular membranes, are essential for different enzy-
matic and hormonal activities, and elements such as
calcium and phosphorus are bone tissue components. The role of minerals as food components is not
restricted to the nutritive value or importance from a
physiological point of view, minerals participate also in
taste, as enhancers or inhibitors of enzyme catalysis
and in reactions affecting food texture. According to the presence of elements in foods and
the requirements of human beings, elements are
classified in major and minor or trace elements.
Major elements are required in amounts higher than
100mg/day, and include calcium, phosphorus, sodium,
potassium, magnesium, chloride, and sulfur. Minor or
trace elements are those required in amounts lower
than 100mg/day. This group includes iron, zinc,
copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, chromium, and
silicon. The requirements of all of them are in a more
