• Even within the same classification, differences are great
    1. 30 X more Ca than Mg in the body
    2. 70 X more Zn than Mn in the body
  • Comparisons
    1. 98% of body's Ca is in skeleton and teeth
    2. Most of I is concentrated in the thyroid gland
    3. Zn is widely distributed throughout the body.

    • V.  Metabolism

    1. Absorption and Excretion
      1. Percentage of intake
      2. Mechanisms
        1. Simple diffusion
        2. Facilitated diffusion
        3. Active transport
      3. Gastrointestinal sites of absorption
    2. Interactions with other dietary components
      1. With other inorganic elements
        1. Cu and Mo
        2. Cd and Zn
      2. With organic compounds
        1. Zn and phytate
    3. Homeostatic controls
      Homeostasis: Maintenance of physiological equilibrium
      Homeorhesis: Changes in metabolism to support a new physiological state
      1. Absorption changes (Fe, Zn, Ca)
      2. Urinary excretion (Na, Cl, K)
      3. Tissue content changes (Cu)
      4. Variable endogenous fecal excretion
      5. Secretion in milk (I)
    4. Tissue concentrations and distributions
      1. > 98% of Ca in skeleton and teeth
      2. Most of I in the thyroid gland
      3. Zn is widely distributed throughout the body

    VI.  Functions of inorganic elements

    1. Structure – Ca, P, Mg, Mn, Cu, Si, Na
    2. Energy transfer – P
    3. Protein synthesis – S is part of certain amino acids: P, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn and Cr are components of RNA
    4. Parts of enzyme systems
      1. Some of the major elements – Ca and Mg
      2. Most of the essential trace elements
        1. Metallo enzymes – metal firmly associated with protein
        2. Metal-enzyme complexes – looser association
        3. Several enzyme systems may work in concert: Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, Mn-superoxide dismutase, Se in glutathione peroxidase and Fe in catalyses are involved in protection against lipid peroxidation of cell membranes.
    5. Electrolytes
      1. Osmotic pressure
      2. Acid-base balance, pH
    6. Membrane permeability – Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl
    7. Neuromuscular function – Ca, Mg
    8. Hormones – I in thyroid hormone
    9. Vitamin B12 – Co
    10. Transport of oxygen – Fe

    VII.  Source of inorganic elements

    1. Cannot be synthesized.  Must come from environment.
      1. Feed is primary source
      2. Supplements
      3. Water
      4. Soil
      5. Nonfeed contamination

    VIII.  Problems – Deficiency or Excess

    1. Geographical
      1. Goiter belt – North of Mason-Dixon line and away from ocean – deficient in Iodine
      2. High organic soils – Florida, Alaska, United Kingdom: Excess Mo, deficient in many trace elements
      3. Selenium – toxic in Nebraska and South Dakota; deficient in Michigan and Ohio
    2. Industrial pollution – SO4, F, Pb, Cd, Hg, PCB's, PBB's
    3. Seasonal – grass tetany
    4. Metabolic – milk fever
    5. Trace element deficiencies often produce symptoms similar to those produced by trace element excess.
      1. In deficiency, there may be insufficient activities of certain enzymes needed to control biological oxidation products (examples Cu for Cu, Zn SOD; Fe for catalese)
      2. In excess, the amount of metal may exceed metal binding sites, leading to increased oxidation causing problems similar to deficiency (see above).  (Example – transition elements catalyze the Fenton reaction which produces hydroxyl radicals)



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