Minerals

Magnesium: Definition, Synthesis, Absorption, Transport, and Distribution

Magnesium is an element of the alkaline earth group and bears the symbol “Mg”. Because the mineral has a high chemical reactivity, it occurs in nature not in elemental but exclusively in cationically bound form – for example, as magnesite (MgCO3), dolomite (MgCO3* Ca-CO3), kieserite (MgSO4* H2O), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), and magnesium bromide (MgBr2). Magnesium … Magnesium: Definition, Synthesis, Absorption, Transport, and Distribution

Magnesium: Functions

Magnesium is an essential cofactor of over 300 enzymatic reactions of intermediary metabolism. By activating most ATP-dependent enzymes, such as kinases, aminopeptidases, nucleotidases, pyruvate oxidases, phosphatases, glutaminases, and carboxypeptidases, the mineral is involved in numerous metabolic processes, including oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Magnesium is a component of the following extracellular … Magnesium: Functions

Magnesium: Interactions

Interactions of magnesium with other agents (micronutrients, foods, drugs): Vitamin D and calcium The active form of vitamin D (calcitriol) may increase intestinal absorption, that is, absorption through the intestine, of magnesium to a small extent. On the other hand, magnesium absorption does not appear to be calcitriol-dependent, unlike the absorption of calcium and phosphate.It … Magnesium: Interactions

Magnesium: Symptoms of Deficiency

Severe magnesium deficiency is extremely rare. The first sign of a deficiency is a serum magnesium level below normal – called hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency). Over time, the serum calcium level also begins to drop, even though PTH (parathyroid hormone) rises to compensate for the loss and even though sufficient calcium is ingested with food. Normally, … Magnesium: Symptoms of Deficiency

Magnesium: Risk Groups

Groups at risk for deficiency-hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency; <0.8 mmol/L)-include individuals with Age >= 65 years (decreased dietary intake, increased renal losses due to increasing incidence of disease-morbidity and increasing use of medications, such as loop diuretics and others. Decreased intakes, for example, malnutrition in chronic alcoholism, parenteral nutrition without adequate magnesium supplementation Intestinal losses and … Magnesium: Risk Groups

Magnesium: Safety Assessment

The European food safety authority (EFSA) last evaluated vitamins and minerals for safety in 2006 and set a so-called Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for each micronutrient, provided sufficient data were available. This UL reflects the maximum safe level of a micronutrient that will not cause adverse effects when taken daily from all sources for … Magnesium: Safety Assessment

Calcium: Definition, Synthesis, Absorption, Transport, and Distribution

Calcium is a chemical element with the element symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It belongs to the group of alkaline earth metals and is the fifth most abundant element on Earth. Calcium represents an essential (vital) mineral for humans and occurs in the organism exclusively as a divalent cation (Ca2+). Absorption Food-bound calcium must … Calcium: Definition, Synthesis, Absorption, Transport, and Distribution

Calcium: Functions

Functions of calcium for skeletal system and teeth: Stability of the skeletal system – in addition to the collagen matrix, calcium salts are the stabilizing factor of the skeletal system; calcium, together with inorganic phosphate in the form of hydroxyapatite, exerts support functions in bones and teeth and gives strength to the bone to maintain … Calcium: Functions

Calcium: Interactions

Interactions of calcium with other agents (micronutrients, foods):Various nutritive factors can lead to a negative calcium balance, whereby more calcium is excreted through the kidney and intestine than is absorbed – this calcium comes from the bones.For example, certain foods or their ingredients inhibit enteric calcium absorption. These include: High-fiber foods, such as wheat bran, … Calcium: Interactions

Calcium: Symptoms of Deficiency

Hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency) may be associated with the following symptoms. Osteomalacia Cataract Trophic skin disorders Hyperreflexia Tetany Cerebral seizures A low serum calcium level likely indicates abnormal parathyroid function and is rarely due to inadequate calcium intake, as the skeleton acts as a large calcium reserve store, helping to maintain serum calcium levels within the … Calcium: Symptoms of Deficiency

Sodium and Chloride: Supply

The intake recommendations (D-A-CH reference values) of the German Nutrition Society (DGE) presented below are aimed at healthy people of normal weight. They do not refer to the supply of sick and convalescent people. Individual requirements may therefore be higher than the DGE intake recommendations (e.g., due to dietary habits, consumption of stimulants, long-term medication, … Sodium and Chloride: Supply