Minerals

Question 1

What are minerals?

Answer 1

Micronutrients that are inorganic and do not contain carbon

Question 2

What are the differences between vitamins and minerals?

Answer 2

• carbon and no carbon (organic/inorganic)

Question 3

What are common minerals?

Answer 3

Calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, chlorine, iodine, phosphate, sodium, copper, selenium

Question 4

What is the difference between minerals and ions?

Answer 4

Ions have some sort of charge whereas minerals occur in solid forms (salt) by combining with other elements

Question 5

Who was Humphrey Davy?

Answer 5

Discovered calcium by electrolysis of calcium oxide

Question 6

What is the most commonly occurring calcium in bones?

Answer 6

Calcium Hydroxyapatite - Ca5(OH)(PO4)3

Question 7

Which vitamin is necessary for calcium absorption?

Answer 7

Vitamin D

Question 8

What are the cells of the bones?

Answer 8

Osteoclast (resorption) and Osteoblast (formation)

Question 9

Which bone cells are more abundant ant older ages? What condition can this lead to?

Answer 9

Osteoclast>osteoblasts
Osteoporosis

Question 10

Why is osteoporosis more common in women?

Answer 10

Lower levels of estrogen during and after menopause

Question 11

What is the best “cure” for osteoporosis?

Answer 11

Exercise (weight-baring and cardio)

Question 12

What are the functions of calcium in the body?

Answer 12

Formation of bones and tissue, control nerve signals, muscle contraction, heartbeat regulation, blood clotting, blood pressure regulation

Question 13

How much calcium should be consumed a day?

Answer 13

~1000mg/day (See slide 29)

Question 14

How is calcium requirement measured?

Answer 14

Measuring the difference between calcium intake vs. output (urine)

Question 15

What is the difficulty of getting full mineral requirements?

Answer 15

Absorption level; how long does it take to absorb the mineral into the body

Question 16

What are issues with calcium supplementation?

Answer 16

• supplement does not reduce bone fractures
• increased incident of hear attacks (deposit on arteries), strokes, and kidney stone (stones = calcium)

Question 17

What were flaws in the study claiming 1 glass of milk a day decreased risks of colon cancer?

Answer 17

• only applied to people with a deficit
• survey (less accurate)
• additional increase from alcohol

Question 18

How was magnesium discovered?

Answer 18

Farmer dug a hole and water was filled with epson salts (useful for rashes and muscle aches…. maybe)

Question 19

What can magnesium be used for?

Answer 19

Constipation, used as a laxative

Question 20

How was magnesium used in photography?

Answer 20

Flash was created by very flammable magnesium

Question 21

What is the most common magnesium compound?

Answer 21

Dolomite - CaMg(CO3)2

Question 22

Where can magnesium be found naturally occuring?

Answer 22

Chlorophylls - at the base of the molecular structure

Question 23

How is magnesium used in the body?

Answer 23

Enzyme cofactor, DNA/RNA synthesis, muscle contraction, heart rhythm, bone health, energy production, protein function

Question 24

How much magnesium is necessary?

Answer 24

~400 mg

Question 25

Why does not consuming the recommended amount of magnesium not equate to deficiency?

Answer 25

Kidneys will excrete less magnesium in urine when body is ingesting less

Question 26

Who benefits from magnesium supplementation?

Answer 26

Alcoholics, inflammatory bowel diseases, and presupposition to diabetes

Question 27

What are some potential applications of Mg?

Answer 27

Migraines, sleep quality (maybe)

Question 28

What is our prof’s beef with “Dr.” Carolyn Dean?

Answer 28

Wrote false article to promote magnesium supplements and said “if you can’t pronounce the word, it’s a chemical”

Question 29

What gland is iodine most commonly used in and what does it produce?

Answer 29

Thyroid gland; iodine containing hormones

Question 30

What are the functions of the thyroid/iodine?

Answer 30

Energy production rates, embryo development, body temperature, digestive rate, brain development, heartbeat, rate of cell production, muscle contraction

Question 31

What was used for thyroid inflammation, historically?

Answer 31

Seaweed

Question 32

What is hypothyroidism? Hyperthyroidism?

Answer 32

- underproduction of thyroid hormones - overproduction of thyroid hormones

Question 33

What can be the consequence of iodine deficiency in utero?

Answer 33

Iodine cretinism that causes physical and mental impairments at birth

Question 34

What is the daily intake of iodine?

Answer 34

~100 μg

Question 35

When is iodine supplementation benefitical?

Answer 35

During pregnancy

Question 36

Why is iodine useful in people who live near nuclear power plants?

Answer 36

Stable iodine can be consumed in case of nuclear spills to prevent radioactive iodine from blocking iodine receptors in the thyroid.

Question 37

What are the 3 forms of iron?

Answer 37

Elemental - Fe Ferrous - Fe2+ Ferric - Fe3+

Question 38

Which iron form is most difficult to absorb? Easiest?

Answer 38

Hard - Ferric (spinach) Easy - Ferrous (red meats)

Question 39

What are the functions of iron?

Answer 39

Hemoglobin, RBC formation, myoglobin, immune system function, hormone production, enzyme cofactor

Question 40

What is iron stored as? When is it released?

Answer 40

Ferritin; when the body has a deficit

Question 41

What type of iron deficiency is most common?

Answer 41

Anemia

Question 42

What is the recommended dosage of iron?

Answer 42

~10 mg

Question 43

Why can iron be consumed in its metal form?

Answer 43

Acid in the stomach can break down iron to be used

Question 44

What could be a cause of iron deficiency?

Answer 44

Use of stainless steel cookwear

Question 45

What is hemochromatosis?

Answer 45

Over consumption of iron

Question 46

What is a way hemochromatosis is cured?

Answer 46

Drawing blood