ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 102 Calcium .................................................................................................................. 103
Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 103 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 103 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 103 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 103 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 104 Uses ................................................................................................................... 104 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 104 Commercial Preparations .................................................................................. 104 De ciency ......................................................................................................... 104 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 104
Chromium .............................................................................................................. 105 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 105 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 105 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 105 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 105 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 105 Uses ................................................................................................................... 106 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 106 Interactions and Side Effects ............................................................................. 106
Copper .................................................................................................................... 106 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 106 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 106 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 106
Elimination ........................................................................................................ 107 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 107 Uses ................................................................................................................... 107 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 107 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 107 Commercial Preparations .................................................................................. 107 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 107
Iodine ..................................................................................................................... 108 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 108 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 108 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 108 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 108 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 108 Uses ................................................................................................................... 108 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 108 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 109 Commercial Preparations .................................................................................. 109 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 109
Iron ......................................................................................................................... 109 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 109 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 110 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 110 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 110 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 110 Uses ................................................................................................................... 110 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 110 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 111 Commercial Preparations .................................................................................. 111 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 111
Magnesium ............................................................................................................. 111 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 111 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 111 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 112 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 112 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 112 Uses ................................................................................................................... 112 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 112 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 112 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 113
Manganese ............................................................................................................. 113 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 113 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 113 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 113 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 113 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 113
Uses ................................................................................................................... 114 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 114 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 114 Adverse Effects, Contraindications, and Interactions ....................................... 114
Molybdenum .......................................................................................................... 114 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 114 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 115 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 115 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 115 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 115 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 115 Uses .................................................................................................................. 115 Interactions and Side Effects ............................................................................. 115
Phosphorus ............................................................................................................. 116 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 116 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 116 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 116 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 116 Uses ................................................................................................................... 116 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 117 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 117 Adverse Effects ................................................................................................. 117 Interactions ........................................................................................................ 117
Potassium ............................................................................................................... 117 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 117 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 118 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 118 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 118 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 118 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 118 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 118 Adverse Effects and Interactions ...................................................................... 118
Selenium ................................................................................................................ 119 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 119 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 119 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 119 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 119 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 119 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 119 Uses ................................................................................................................... 120 De ciency ......................................................................................................... 120 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 120 Commercial Preparations .................................................................................. 120 Adverse Effects ................................................................................................. 120 Interactions ........................................................................................................ 120
Zinc ........................................................................................................................ 121 Mechanism of Action ........................................................................................ 121 Absorption ......................................................................................................... 121 Distribution ....................................................................................................... 121 Elimination ........................................................................................................ 121 Bioavailability ................................................................................................... 121 Uses ................................................................................................................... 121 De ciency.......................................................................................................... 122 Dietary Sources ................................................................................................. 122 Adverse Effects ................................................................................................. 122 Interactions ........................................................................................................ 122
References .............................................................................................................. 122
INTRODUCTION
Minerals are simple inorganic elements. They are found in the body in the form of mostly salts. Four to 6% of the body weight is attributed to minerals. Almost half of it comes from calcium, and a quarter is phosphorus (phosphates); other essential minerals contribute to the whole picture. Calcium plays a major role in skeletal muscle formation and functions, bone and teeth building and formation, the heart and digestive systems, and blood cell formation. Potassium is important in metabolic processes, such as maintaining water balance in a cell unit. Iodine is a component of endocrine system. On their own, they are part of many organic molecules. Minerals are the basis of important digestive uids, such as hydrochloric acid. The important minerals in the human body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, chromium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum iron, iodine, zinc, and selenium [Otten, Helwig, and Meyers 2006].
