<h2 class="section-header"><strong class="title">Minerals</strong></h2>
<p class="para">Dietary minerals are the chemical elements that living organisms require to maintain health. In humans, essential minerals include calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine and magnesium.</p>
<p class="para"><em class="emphasis">Macro-elements</em> (macro-nutrients) are nutrients that are required in large quantities by living organisms (e.g carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus and sulfur).</p>
<p class="para"><em class="emphasis">Micro-elements</em> (micro-nutrients) are nutrients that are required in very small quantities for development and <a data-lesson="population-growth-patterns" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="ecology-overview" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/ecology-overview/population-growth-patterns">growth</a> and include iron, cobalt, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc and molybdenum.</p>
<p class="para">The table below summarises some important minerals required for proper functioning of the human body. Proper nutrition involves a diet in which the daily requirements of the listed mineral nutrients are met.</p>
<table>
<tbody valign="top">
<tr>
<td><b class="emphasis">Mineral</b></td>
<td><b class="emphasis">Food Source</b></td>
<td><b class="emphasis">Main Functions</b></td>
<td><b class="emphasis">Deficiency Disease</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><em class="emphasis">Macro-nutrients</em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Calcium (Ca)</td>
<td>most <a data-lesson="fruit" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="seed-plants" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/seed-plants/fruit">fruit</a> and vegetables, meat, dairy products</td>
<td>strong <a data-lesson="bones" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="animal-systems-intro" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/animal-systems-intro/bones">bones</a> and teeth; <a data-lesson="muscles" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/muscles">muscle</a> contraction; blood clotting; nerve function</td>
<td>rickets, osteoporosis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Magnesium (Mg)</td>
<td>nuts, meat, dairy products</td>
<td>strong bones and teeth; nerve and muscle function; <a data-lesson="biology-203-glossary-9" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-metabolism" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-metabolism/biology-203-glossary-9">energy</a> production</td>
<td>osteoporosis, muscle cramps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Phosphorus (P)</td>
<td>nuts, meat, dairy products</td>
<td>strong bones and teeth; nerve function; part of <a data-lesson="nucleic-acids-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/nucleic-acids-2">nucleic acids</a> and <a data-lesson="introduction-to-cell-reproduction" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-reproduction" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-reproduction/introduction-to-cell-reproduction">cell</a> membranes</td>
<td>rickets, osteoporosis</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Potassium (K)</td>
<td>bananas, meat, dairy products</td>
<td>growth and maintenance, <a data-lesson="water-and-life-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/water-and-life-2">water</a> balance, <a data-lesson="heart" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/heart">heart</a> function</td>
<td>muscle cramps; heart, kidney and <a data-lesson="summarizing-breathing" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="respiratory-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/respiratory-system/summarizing-breathing">lung</a> failure</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sodium (Na)</td>
<td>table salt, fruit and vegetables</td>
<td>regulates <a data-lesson="blood-pressure" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="circulatory-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/circulatory-system/blood-pressure">blood pressure</a> and volume; muscle and nerve function</td>
<td>muscle cramps</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sulfur (S)</td>
<td>meat, dairy products, eggs, legumes</td>
<td>part of proteins; detoxifies the body; good skin; hair and nails</td>
<td>disorder unlikely</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><em class="emphasis">Micro-nutrients</em></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Iron (Fe)</td>
<td>meat, legumes</td>
<td>part of haemoglobin (the oxygen transport protein); part of some enzymes</td>
<td>anaemia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Iodine (I)</td>
<td>seafood, iodated salt</td>
<td>production of <a data-lesson="lipid-derived-hormones-or-lipid-soluble-hormones" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="endocrine-system" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/endocrine-system/lipid-derived-hormones-or-lipid-soluble-hormones">hormones</a> by the thyroid gland; strong bones and teeth; good hair; <a data-lesson="skin" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="human-biology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/human-biology/skin">skin</a> and nails</td>
<td>goitre, stunted growth, mental problems</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zinc (Zn)</td>
<td>seafood, meat</td>
<td>immune function; male reproductive system</td>
<td>stunted growth, prostate problems</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

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Minerals

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Discover the fundamental role of chemistry in life, explore the importance of molecules such as water, minerals, and nutrients for plant growth, and learn about the essential organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, as well as enzymes, nucleic acids, and vitamins, and the recommended dietary allowance.


Minerals

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