Editing Human nutrition (section)

=== Minerals ===
{{right|{{Periodic table (for higher organisms)}}}}
{{Main|Mineral (nutrient)|Composition of the human body}}
Dietary minerals are [[inorganic compounds|inorganic]] [[chemical element]]s required by living organisms,<ref name="Mitchell, Dakota and Haroun, Lee 2012 279">{{cite book | author1=Mitchell, Dakota | author2=Haroun, Lee | title=Introduction to Health Care | year=2012 | edition=3 | publisher=Delmar Cengage | isbn=978-1-4354-8755-0 | page=279}}</ref> other than the four elements [[carbon]], [[hydrogen]], [[nitrogen]], and [[oxygen]] that are present in nearly all [[organic chemistry|organic molecules]]. Some have roles as [[Cofactor (biochemistry)|cofactors]], while others are [[electrolyte]]s.<ref>{{cite book | author1=Nelson, D.L. | author2=Cox, M.M. | title=Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry | edition=3rd | publisher=Worth Publishing | location=New York | year=2000 | isbn=978-1-57259-153-0}}</ref> The term "mineral" is archaic, since the intent is to describe simply the less common elements in the diet. Some are heavier than the four just mentioned – including several [[metals]], which often occur as ions in the body. Some dietitians recommend that these be supplied from foods in which they occur naturally, or at least as complex compounds, or sometimes even from natural inorganic sources (such as [[calcium carbonate]] from ground [[oyster]] shells). Some are absorbed much more readily in the ionic forms found in such sources. On the other hand, minerals are often artificially added to the diet as supplements; the most well-known is likely iodine in [[iodized salt]] which prevents [[goiter]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Datta | first1=Mridul | last2=Vitolins | first2=Mara Z. | date=2016-10-02 | title=Food Fortification and Supplement Use – Are there Health Implications? | journal=Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition | volume=56 | issue=13 | pages=2149–2159 | doi=10.1080/10408398.2013.818527 | issn=1040-8398 | pmc=4692722 | pmid=25036360}}</ref>

==== Macrominerals ====
Elements with recommended dietary allowance ([[Recommended Dietary Allowance|RDA]]) greater than 150&nbsp;mg/day are, in alphabetical order:
*[[Calcium]] (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) is vital to the health of the muscular, circulatory, and digestive systems; is indispensable to the building of bone; and supports the synthesis and function of blood cells. For example, calcium is used to regulate the contraction of muscles, nerve conduction, and the clotting of blood. It can play this role because the Ca<sup>2+</sup> ion forms stable [[coordination complex]]es with many organic compounds, especially [[protein]]s; it also forms compounds with a wide range of solubility, enabling the formation of the [[skeleton]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ | title=Office of Dietary Supplements – Calcium | website=ods.od.nih.gov | language=en | access-date=31 October 2019 | archive-date=17 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317073525/https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/ | url-status=live}}</ref> Food sources include yogurt, milk, cheese, leafy greens, tofu, and fortified beverages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food Sources of Calcium {{!}} Dietary Guidelines for Americans |url=https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/food-sources-calcium |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.dietaryguidelines.gov}}</ref>
*[[Chlorine]] as [[chloride]] ions; electrolyte; see sodium, below.
* [[Magnesium]], required for processing [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] and related reactions (builds bone, causes strong [[peristalsis]], increases flexibility, increases alkalinity). Approximately 50% is in bone, the remaining 50% is almost all inside body cells, with only about 1% located in extracellular fluid. Food sources include oats, buckwheat, tofu, nuts, caviar, green leafy vegetables, legumes, and chocolate.<ref name="mahan">{{cite book | title=Krausw's Food and the Nutrition Care Process | edition=13th | publisher=Elsevier | location=St. Louis | year=2012 | isbn=978-1-4377-2233-8 | author1=L. Kathleen Mahan | author2=Janice L. Raymond | author3=Sylvia Escott-Stump}}</ref><ref name="USDA DB">{{Cite web | url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/ | title=USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, SR26, 2013 | access-date=2022-10-19 | archive-date=2023-01-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115162310/http://fdc.nal.usda.gov/ | url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Phosphorus]], required component of bones; essential for energy processing.<ref>{{cite book | author=D. E. C. Corbridge | title=Phosphorus: An Outline of its Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Technology | edition=5th | publisher=Elsevier | location=Amsterdam | year=1995 | isbn=978-0-444-89307-9}}</ref> Approximately 80% is found in the inorganic portion of bones and teeth. Phosphorus is a component of every cell, as well as important metabolites, including DNA, RNA, ATP, and phospholipids. Also important in pH regulation. It is an important electrolyte in the form of [[phosphate]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-in/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-disorders/overview-of-disorders-of-phosphate-concentration | title=Overview of Disorders of Phosphate Concentration – Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders | website=MSD Manual Professional Edition | language=en-IN | access-date=31 October 2019 | archive-date=5 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805043750/https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-in/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-disorders/overview-of-disorders-of-phosphate-concentration | url-status=live}}</ref> Food sources include cheese, egg yolk, milk, meat, fish, poultry, whole-grain cereals, and many others.<ref name="mahan" />
* [[Potassium]], an electrolyte (heart and nerve function). With sodium, potassium is involved in maintaining normal water balance, osmotic equilibrium, and acid-base balance. In addition to calcium, it is important in the regulation of neuromuscular activity. Food sources include bananas, avocados, nuts, vegetables, potatoes, legumes, fish, and mushrooms.<ref name="USDA DB" />
* [[Sodium]], a common food ingredient and [[electrolyte]], found in most foods and manufactured consumer products, typically as [[sodium chloride]] (salt). Excessive sodium consumption can deplete [[calcium]] and [[magnesium]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/Y2809E/y2809e0k.htm | title=Chapter 14. Magnesium | website=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States | access-date=2020-01-03 | archive-date=2019-11-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101125852/http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/Y2809E/y2809e0k.htm | url-status=live}}</ref> Sodium has a role in the etiology of [[hypertension]] demonstrated from studies showing that a reduction of table salt intake may reduce blood pressure.<ref>{{Cite journal | last=Ha | first=Sung Kyu | date=1 June 2014 | title=Dietary salt intake and hypertension | pmc=4105387 | journal=Electrolytes & Blood Pressure | volume=12 | issue=1 | pages=7–18 | doi=10.5049/EBP.2014.12.1.7 | issn=1738-5997 | pmid=25061468}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Wang | first1=Miao | last2=Moran | first2=Andrew E. | last3=Liu | first3=Jing | last4=Qi | first4=Yue | last5=Xie | first5=Wuxiang | last6=Tzong | first6=Keane | last7=Zhao | first7=Dong | date=1 December 2015 | title=A Meta-Analysis of Effect of Dietary Salt Restriction on Blood Pressure in Chinese Adults | journal=Global Heart | volume=10 | issue=4 | pages=291–299.e6 | doi=10.1016/j.gheart.2014.10.009 | issn=2211-8179 | pmc=4529389 | pmid=26014655}}</ref>

==== Trace minerals ====
Many elements are required in smaller amounts (microgram quantities), usually because they play a [[catalytic]] role in [[enzymes]].<ref name=lipp>{{cite book | author1=Lippard, S. J. | author2=Berg, J. M. | title=Principles of Bioinorganic Chemistry | publisher=University Science Books | location=Mill Valley, CA | year=1994 | isbn=978-0-935702-73-6}}</ref> Some trace mineral elements (RDA < 200&nbsp;mg/day) are, in alphabetical order:{{medical citation needed|date=July 2015}}
* [[Cobalt]] as a component of the [[vitamin B12|vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]] family of [[coenzyme]]s
* [[Copper]] required component of many redox enzymes, including [[cytochrome c oxidase]] (see [[Copper in health]])
* [[Chromium]] required for sugar metabolism
* [[Iodine]] required not only for the biosynthesis of [[thyroxin]], but probably, for other important organs as breast, stomach, salivary glands, thymus etc. (see [[Iodine deficiency]]); for this reason iodine is needed in larger quantities than others in this list, and sometimes classified with the macrominerals;<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=Kapil U | title=Health consequences of iodine deficiency | journal=Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal | volume=7 | issue=3 | pages=267–72 | date=December 2007 | pmid=21748117 | pmc=3074887}}</ref> Nowadays it is most easily found in iodized salt, but there are also natural sources such as ''[[Kombu]]''.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=Zava TT, Zava DT | title=Assessment of Japanese iodine intake based on seaweed consumption in Japan: A literature-based analysis | journal=Thyroid Research | volume=4 | issue=1 | pages=14 | date=October 2011 | pmid=21975053 | pmc=3204293 | doi=10.1186/1756-6614-4-14 | doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1=Yeh | first1=Tai Sheng | last2=Hung | first2=Nu Hui | last3=Lin | first3=Tzu Chun | date=1 June 2014 | title=Analysis of iodine content in seaweed by GC-ECD and estimation of iodine intake | journal=Journal of Food and Drug Analysis | volume=22 | issue=2 | pages=189–196 | doi=10.1016/j.jfda.2014.01.014 | issn=1021-9498 | doi-access=free | pmc=9359334}}</ref>
* [[Iron]] required for many enzymes, and for [[hemoglobin]] and some other proteins
* [[Manganese]] (processing of oxygen)
* [[Molybdenum]] required for [[xanthine oxidase]] and related oxidases
* [[Selenium]] required for [[peroxidase]] (antioxidant proteins)
* [[Zinc]] required for several enzymes such as [[carboxypeptidase]], [[Alcohol dehydrogenase#Human|liver alcohol dehydrogenase]], [[carbonic anhydrase]]

==== Ultratrace minerals ====
Ultratrace minerals are an as yet unproven aspect of human nutrition, and may be required at amounts measured in very low ranges of μg/day. Many [[ultratrace element]]s have been suggested as essential, but such claims have usually not been confirmed. Definitive evidence for efficacy comes from the characterization of a biomolecule containing the element with an identifiable and testable function. These include:<ref>{{cite journal | last=Nielsen | first=Forrest H. | date=1998 | title=Ultratrace elements in nutrition: Current knowledge and speculation | journal=The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine | language=en | volume=11 | issue=2–3 | pages=251–274 | doi=10.1002/(SICI)1520-670X(1998)11:2/3<251::AID-JTRA15>3.0.CO;2-Q | issn=1520-670X}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors=Nielsen FH | title=How should dietary guidance be given for mineral elements with beneficial actions or suspected of being essential? | journal=The Journal of Nutrition | volume=126 | issue=9 Suppl | pages=2377S–2385S | date=September 1996 | pmid=8811801 | doi=10.1093/jn/126.suppl_9.2377S | doi-access=free}}</ref>
* Bromine
* Arsenic
* Nickel
* Fluorine
* Boron
* Lithium
* Strontium
* Silicon
* Vanadium