This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, Wellyme may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we truly believe in.
Mineral salts are non-energy nutrients that are found in foods in small quantities. They are essential to our health, making up about 4% of our body's total weight. These minerals are found in various forms within our bodies, such as in bone structures, combined with organic substances, or dissolved in organic fluids.
Chemically, mineral salts are neutral inorganic substances that dissociate in solution to form positive (cations) and negative (anions) ions. They can be categorized based on their respective needs, the amount our body requires to maintain full metabolic functionality. These categories include:
Macroelements These are mineral salts that are present in fairly high quantities. Our bodies require more than 100mg/day of these.
Microelements or trace elements These are mineral salts present in smaller quantities. Our bodies require less than 100mg/day of these.
Some mineral salts serve a plastic function, participating in the structure of the human body. Others are bioregulators, participating in metabolic reactions and enzyme activity.
Macroelements and Their Functions
Macroelement mineral salts are fewer in number than microelements or trace elements, but they are required in larger amounts. These include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chlorine, sulfur, and magnesium.
Calcium and phosphorus These are fundamental components of bones and teeth. Calcium also plays a role in blood coagulation, nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and vessel permeability regulation. Phosphorus is a part of phospholipids (cell membranes), nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), the energy molecule ATP, and some enzymes. It also participates in the body's acid-base balance.
Magnesium Apart from being an essential constituent of the skeletal system, magnesium is a part of numerous enzymes and plays a role in neuromuscular transmission.
Potassium and sodium These regulate the body's acid-base balance, water balance, osmotic pressure, and nervous function.
Chlorine This is essential for the formation of hydrochloric acid, a component of digestive gastric juices. It also regulates the body's acid-base balance and osmotic pressure.
Sulfur This is a component of some important amino acids, vitamins, coenzymes, and the anabolic hormone insulin. It is abundant in human skin, hair, and nails.
Microelements or Trace Elements and Their Functions
Microelements or trace elements include iron, copper, molybdenum, zinc, iodine, fluoride, manganese, chromium, cobalt, and selenium.
Iron and copper These are essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin, an oxygen-binding protein in red blood cells, and muscle myoglobin. Copper also aids in the absorption of iron and is a part of several digestive enzymes.
Molybdenum This forms part of some enzymes involved in the metabolism of purine bases, constituents of nucleotides.
Zinc This is an enzymatic component found in the catalysts of nucleic acids and digestive enzymes. It also participates in the sensory functioning of taste and smell.
Iodine This is a key component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, playing a crucial role in body bioregulation.
Fluoride This helps maintain bone and dental structure and has a protective action against tooth decay.
Manganese This is a component of numerous enzymes that participate in the biosynthesis of cholesterol and the metabolism of amines in general.
Chromium This is involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and enhances the activity of the hormone insulin in glucose transport.
Cobalt This influences the biosynthesis of hemoglobin and facilitates the fixation of thyroid iodine.
Selenium This acts as an antioxidant, protecting cell membranes and counteracting the negative action of free radicals.
In conclusion, mineral salts, whether macroelements or microelements, are essential molecules for our bodies. Even though some of them are not difficult to obtain in sufficient quantities, they should not be neglected. A state of general malnutrition often leads to a hydro-saline imbalance, which must be appropriately compensated to restore the total homeostasis of the body. Therefore, a balanced diet rich in these essential mineral salts is crucial for maintaining optimal health.
