Mineral salts: the role of mineral salts, daily intake, minerals in foods. Acid-base balance. Mineral salts - their role and impact on health The role of salts in living organisms

The cell contains 1–1.5% of mineral salts. Salts are ionic compounds, i.e. they contain atoms with a partially acquired positive and negative charge. In water, salts dissolve easily and decompose into ions, i.e. dissociate to form a metal cation and an acid residue anion. For example:

NaCl ––> Na + + Сl – ;

H 3 PO 4 ––> 2H + + HPO 4 2–;

H 3 RO 4 ––> H + + H 2 RO 4 –.

Therefore, we say that salts are contained in the cell in the form of ions. To the greatest extent in the cell are represented and have the greatest value

cations: K + , Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ ;

anions: HPO 4 2–, H 2 RO 4 –, Cl –, HCO 3 –, HSO 4 –.

There are also salts in living tissues that are in a solid state, for example, calcium phosphate, which is part of the intercellular substance of bone tissue, in mollusk shells.

The biological significance of cations

Consider the importance of the most important cations in the life of the cell and organism.

1. Sodium and potassium cations (K + and Na +), the concentration of which in the cell and in the intercellular space varies greatly - the concentration of K + inside the cell is very high, and Na + is low. As long as the cell is alive, differences in the concentration of these cations are strongly maintained. Due to the difference in the concentrations of sodium and potassium cations on both sides of the cell membrane, a potential difference is created and maintained on it. Also, thanks to these cations, it is possible to transmit excitation along the nerve fibers.

2. Calcium cations (Ca 2+) are enzyme activators, promote blood coagulation, are part of bones, shells, calcareous skeletons, and participate in the mechanisms of muscle contraction.

3. Magnesium cations (Mg 2+) are also enzyme activators and are part of chlorophyll molecules.

4. Iron cations (Fe 2+) are part of hemoglobin and other organic substances.

The biological significance of anions

Despite the fact that during the life of the cell acids and alkalis are continuously formed, normally the reaction of the cell is slightly alkaline, almost neutral (pH = 7.2). This is ensured by the anions of weak acids contained in it, which bind or give off hydrogen ions, as a result of which the reaction of the cell environment remains practically unchanged.

The ability of a cell to maintain a certain concentration of hydrogen ions (pH) is called buffering.

Inside the cell, buffering is provided mainly by H 2 PO 4 anions - this phosphate buffer system. It maintains the pH of the intracellular fluid within 6.9 - 7.4.

In the extracellular fluid and in the blood plasma, CO 3 2– and HCO 3 – play the role of a buffer. bicarbonate system. It maintains a pH of 7.4.

What is the biological role of water? mineral salts?

Water is the most common inorganic compound in living organisms. Its functions are largely determined by the dipole nature of the structure of its molecules.

1. Water is a universal polar solvent; many chemicals in the presence of water dissociate into ions - cations and anions.

2. Water is a medium where various chemical reactions take place between substances in the cell.

3. Water performs a transport function. Most substances are able to penetrate the cell membrane only in the form dissolved in water.

4. Water is an important reactant of hydration reactions and the end product of many biochemical reactions, including oxidation.

5. Water acts as a temperature regulator, which is ensured by its good thermal conductivity and heat capacity and allows you to maintain the temperature inside the cell during temperature fluctuations in the environment.

6. Water is the medium for the life of many living organisms.

Life without water is impossible.

Minerals are also important for the processes occurring in living organisms. Its buffering properties depend on the concentration of salts in the cell - the ability of the cell to maintain a slightly alkaline reaction of its contents at a constant level.

To know the role, functions of vitamins, their classification and the main disorders that occur with hypo- and avitaminosis.

Water-salt metabolism - a set of processes for the distribution of water and minerals between the extra- and intracellular spaces of the body, as well as between the body and the external environment. The distribution of water between the water spaces of the body depends on the osmotic pressure of the liquids in these spaces, which is largely determined by their electrolyte composition. The course of all vital processes depends on the quantitative and qualitative composition of mineral substances in body fluids.

Maintaining the constancy of osmotic, volumetric and ionic balance of extra- and intracellular fluids of the body with the help of reflex mechanisms is called water-electrolyte homeostasis. Changes in the consumption of water and salts, excessive loss of these substances are accompanied by a change in the composition of the internal environment and are perceived by the corresponding receptors. The synthesis of information entering the central nervous system ends with the fact that the kidney, the main effector organ that regulates the water-salt balance, receives nervous or humoral stimuli that adapt its work to the needs of the body.

Water functions:

1) an obligatory component of the protoplasm of cells, tissues and organs; the body of an adult is 50-60% (40 - 45 l) consists of water;

2) a good solvent and carrier of mineral and nutrients, metabolic products;

3) participation in metabolic reactions (hydrolysis, swelling of colloids, oxidation of proteins, fats, carbohydrates);

4) weakening of friction between contacting surfaces in the human body;

5) the main component of water-electrolyte homeostasis, is part of the plasma, lymph and tissue fluid;

6) regulation of body temperature;

7) ensuring the flexibility and elasticity of tissues;

8) is part of the digestive juices (together with mineral salts).

The daily requirement of an adult in water at rest is 35-40 ml per kilogram of body weight. This amount enters the body from the following sources:

1) water consumed in the form of drinking (1-1.1 l) and together with food (1-1.1 l);

2) water, which is formed as a result of chemical transformations of nutrients (0.3-0.35 l).

The main organs that remove water from the body are the kidneys, sweat glands, lungs and intestines. The kidneys remove 1-1.5 liters of water per day, the sweat glands through the skin - 0.5 liters, the lungs exhale in the form of vapors 0.35 liters (with increased and deepening breathing - up to 0.8 liters / day), through the intestines with feces - 100-150 ml of water.

The ratio between the amount of water entering the body and the amount of water removed from it is the water balance. For the normal functioning of the organism, it is important that the influx of water completely covers the consumption, otherwise, as a result of the loss of water, serious violations of vital activity occur. Loss of 10% of water leads to a state of dehydration (dehydration), with a loss of 20% of water, death occurs. With a lack of water in the body, there is a movement of fluid from the cells into the interstitial space, and then into the vascular bed. Local and general disorders of water metabolism in tissues can manifest themselves in the form of edema and dropsy. Edema is the accumulation of fluid in the tissues, dropsy is the accumulation of fluid in the body cavities. The fluid that accumulates in the tissues with edema and in the cavities with dropsy is called a transudate.

The body needs a constant supply of not only water, but also mineral salts, which enter the body with food and water, with the exception of table salt, which is specially added to food. In total, 70 chemical elements were found in the body of animals and humans, of which 43 are considered indispensable (essential; lat. essentia - essence). The body's need for various minerals is not the same. Some elements (macroelements) are introduced into the body in significant quantities (in grams and tenths of a gram per day): sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine. Other elements - trace elements (iron, manganese, cobalt, zinc, fluorine, iodine) are needed by the body in extremely small quantities (in micrograms of a milligram).

Functions of mineral salts:

1) are biological constants of homeostasis;

2) create and maintain osmotic pressure in the blood and osmotic balance in tissues); 3) maintain the constancy of the active reaction of the blood (pH = 7.36-7.42);

5) participate in water-salt metabolism;

6) sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorine ions play an important role in the processes of excitation and inhibition, muscle contraction, blood clotting;

7) are an integral part of bones (phosphorus, calcium), hemoglobin (iron), the hormone thyroxine (iodine), gastric juice (hydrochloric acid);

8) are integral components of all digestive juices.

1) Sodium enters the body in the form of table (table) salt (daily requirement for it for an adult is 10-15 g), is the only mineral salt that is added to food Participates in maintaining osmotic balance and fluid volume in the body, affects body growth. Together with potassium, it regulates the activity of the heart muscle, changing its excitability. Symptoms of sodium deficiency: weakness, apathy, muscle twitching, loss of muscle contractility properties.

2) Potassium enters the body with vegetables, meat, fruits. The daily norm is 1 g. Together with sodium, it participates in the creation of a bioelectric membrane potential (potassium-sodium pump), maintains the osmotic pressure of the intracellular fluid, and stimulates the formation of acetylcholine. With a deficiency, inhibition of rt processes of assimilation (anabolism), weakness, drowsiness, hyporeflexia (decrease in reflexes) is observed.

3) Chlorine comes in the form of table salt. Chlorine anions, together with sodium cations, are involved in creating the osmotic pressure of blood plasma and other body fluids. Chlorine is also part of the hydrochloric acid of gastric juice. No deficiency symptoms were found.

4) Calcium comes from dairy products, vegetables (green leaves). It is contained in the bones along with phosphorus and is one of the most important biological constants of the blood. The calcium content in human blood is normally 2.25-2.75 mmol / l. A decrease in calcium leads to involuntary muscle contractions (calcium tetany) and death due to respiratory arrest. Calcium is essential for blood clotting. Daily requirement - 0.8 g.

5) Phosphorus comes from dairy products, meat, cereals. The daily requirement is 1.5 g. Together with calcium, it is found in bones and teeth, it is part of high-energy compounds (ATP, creatine phosphate). The deposition of phosphorus in the bones is possible only in the presence of vitamin D. With a lack of phosphorus in the body, bone demineralization is observed.

6) Iron comes from meat, liver, beans, dried fruits. The daily requirement is 12-15 mg. It is an integral part of blood hemoglobin and respiratory enzymes. The body contains 3 g of iron, of which 2.5 g is found in erythrocytes as an integral part of hemoglobin, the remaining 0.5 g are part of the cells of the body. Iron deficiency disrupts the synthesis of hemoglobin and, as a result, leads to anemia.

7) Iodine comes from drinking water enriched with it when flowing through rocks or from table salt with the addition of iodine. The daily requirement is 0.03 mg. Participates in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Lack of iodine in the body leads to the occurrence of endemic goiter - an increase in the thyroid gland (some areas of the Urals, the Caucasus, the Pamirs).

vitamins(lat. vita - life + amines) - indispensable substances that come with food, necessary to maintain the vital functions of the body. More than 50 vitamins are known.

Functions of vitamins:

1) are biological catalysts and interact with enzymes and hormones;

2) are coenzymes, i.e. low molecular weight components of enzymes;

3) take part in the regulation of the metabolic process in the form of inhibitors or activators;

4) participate in the formation of hormones and mediators;

5) reduce inflammation and promote the restoration of damaged tissue;

6) promote growth, improve mineral metabolism, resistance to infections, protect against anemia, increased bleeding;

7) provide high performance.

Diseases that develop in the absence of vitamins in food are called beriberi. Functional disorders that occur with partial vitamin deficiency are hypovitaminosis. Diseases caused by excessive intake of vitamins are called hypervitaminosis. Vitamins are denoted by letters of the Latin alphabet, chemical and physiological names. By solubility, all vitamins are divided into 2 groups: water-soluble and fat-soluble.

Water soluble vitamins.

1) Vitamin C - ascorbic acid, antiscorbutic. Contained in rose hips, black currants, lemons. The daily requirement is 50-100 mg. In the absence of vitamin C, scurvy (scurvy) develops: bleeding and loosening of the gums, tooth loss, hemorrhages in the muscles and joints. The bone tissue becomes more porous and brittle (there may be fractures). There is a general weakness, lethargy, exhaustion, reduced resistance to infections,

2) Vitamin B1 - thiamine, antineurin. Found in brewer's yeast, liver, pork, nuts, whole grain cereals, egg yolk. The daily requirement is 2-3 mg. In the absence of vitamin B1, the beriberi disease develops: polyneuritis, impaired activity of the heart and gastrointestinal tract.

3) Vitamin B2 - riboflavin (lactoflavin), anti-seborrheic. Contained in the liver, kidneys, yeast. The daily requirement is 2-3 mg. With beriberi in adults, there is a metabolic disorder, damage to the eyes, oral mucosa, lips, atrophy of the papillae of the tongue, seborrhea, dermatitis, weight loss; in children - growth retardation.

4) Vitamin B3 - pantothenic acid, anti-dermatitis. The daily requirement is 10 mg. When beriberi occurs weakness, fatigue, dizziness, dermatitis, damage to the mucous membranes, neuritis.

5) Vitamin B6 - pyridoxine, antidermatitis (adermine). Contained in rice bran, beans, yeast, kidneys, liver, meat. Synthesized by the microflora of the large intestine. The daily requirement is 2-3 mg. With beriberi, nausea, weakness, dermatitis in adults are observed. In infants, a manifestation of beriberi is convulsions (convulsions).

6) Vitamin B12 - cyanocobalamin, anti-anemic. Contained in the liver of cattle and chickens. Synthesized by the microflora of the large intestine. The daily requirement is 2-3 mcg. Affects hematopoiesis and protects against malignant anemia T. Addison-A. Birmer.

7) Viatmin Sun - folic acid (folacin), anti-anemic. Contained in lettuce, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, wheat, liver, meat, eggs. Synthesized in the large intestine by microflora. The daily requirement is 3 mg. Affects the synthesis of nucleic acids, hematopoiesis and protects against megaloblastic anemia.

8) Vitamin P - rutin (citrine), a capillary-strengthening vitamin. Contained in lemons, buckwheat, blackcurrant, chokeberry, rose hips. The daily requirement is 50 mg. Reduces the permeability and fragility of capillaries, enhances the action of vitamin C and promotes its accumulation in the body.

9) Vitamin B5 (PP) - nicotinic acid (nicotinamide, niacin), anti-pellagic. Contained in yeast, fresh vegetables, meat. The daily requirement is 15 mg. It is synthesized in the large intestine from the amino acid tryptophan. Protects against pellagra: dermatitis, diarrhea (diarrhea), dementia (mental disorders).

fat soluble vitamins.

1) Vitamin A - retinol, antixerophthalmic. Contained in fish oil, cod liver and halibut. The daily requirement is 1.5 mg. Promotes growth and protects against night blindness (hemeralopia), dryness of the cornea (xerophthalmia), softening and necrosis of the cornea (keratomalacia). The precursor of vitamin A is carotene, which is found in plants: carrots, apricots, parsley leaves.

2) Vitamin D - calciferol, anti-rachitic. Contained in cow's butter, egg yolk, fish oil. Daily requirement - 5-10 mcg, for infants - 10-25 mcg. Regulates the exchange of calcium and phosphorus in the body and protects against rickets. The precursor of vitamin D in the body is 7-dehydro-cholesterol, which, under the action of ultraviolet rays in tissues (in the skin), is converted to vitamin D.

3). Vitamin E - tocopherol, anti-sterile vitamin. Contained in lettuce, parsley, vegetable oil, oatmeal, corn. The daily requirement is 10-15 mg. Provides the function of reproduction, the normal course of pregnancy. With its absence, muscle degeneration occurs, muscle weakness and bone atrophy develop.

four). Vitamin K - vikasol (phylloquinone), antihemorrhagic vitamin. Contained in the leaves of spinach, lettuce, cabbage, nettle, in tomatoes, rowan berries, in the liver. Synthesized by the microflora of the large intestine. Bile is required for absorption. The daily requirement is 0.2-0.3 mg. It enhances the biosynthesis of prothrombin in the liver and promotes blood clotting.

5). Vitamin F - a complex of unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic) is necessary for normal fat metabolism in the body. Daily requirement -10-12 g.

Mineral salts are among the necessary components of the food taken, and their absence can lead to the death of a living organism. They are very actively involved in the activities of all elements of the body, as well as in the normalization of the functioning of its systems. Minerals are necessary for hematopoiesis, the formation of various tissues. For example, calcium and phosphorus are the main structural elements of bone tissue. It is believed that a person needs at least twenty different mineral salts. In our body, they can come with water and food.

Some types of products are characterized by a high concentration of certain minerals, including rare ones. Cereals contain a lot of silicon, and marine plants - iodine.

For our body, a certain acid-gap balance is normal. Its maintenance is the basis of effective life activity. Such a balance should be constant, but with some shifts in nutrition, it can fluctuate in one direction or another.

For human nutrition, a shift towards an acidic character is considered characteristic. This is fraught with the development of various diseases, including atherosclerosis.

Acid minerals include chlorine, phosphorus and sulfur. They are found in fish, meat, bread, eggs, cereals, etc. Potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium are alkaline elements.

They are rich in products such as fruits and vegetables, berries, milk and its derivatives.
The older a person becomes, the more alkaline foods should be present in his diet.

The most essential mineral salts for our body are potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and iron.

Potassium belongs to the alkali metals. It is needed by our body to build muscles, as well as for the spleen and liver. Potassium contributes to the normalization of digestion processes, and in particular actively stimulates the processing of starches and fats.

This explains the benefits of this element for constipation. In addition, it is indispensable for disorders in blood circulation, inflammatory processes on the skin, weakened heart function and hot flashes.

It is quickly manifested by flabbiness of muscle mass, as well as mental disorders. This element is found in acidic fruits, raw vegetables, cranberries and barberries, as well as nuts, bran and almonds.

Calcium is equally necessary at any age. Its salts are part of the blood, as well as interstitial and cellular fluid. It is believed that they are necessary for strengthening the body's defense systems, as well as for the implementation and maintenance of neuromuscular excitability.

The role of calcium salts in their importance for blood clotting, and their lack quickly affects the activity of the heart muscle. This mineral is especially necessary for the bones of the skeleton.

Calcium is present in many foods. But at the same time, it is quite difficult to be absorbed by the body. It is best to consume it with dairy products, for example, half a liter of milk contains its daily rate.

When building a diet, one should take into account the fact that calcium is actively lost by the body during various stressful situations and during illnesses. This very quickly affects the state of the whole organism. Therefore, if calcium is lost, its intake should be increased.

Phosphorus is essential for stimulating the growth and activity of the body. It affects bone development and is also very important for the brain. A stable intake of this element is necessary for active mental work. But it should be borne in mind that a constant excess of phosphorus can lead to the formation of tumors.

This mineral is found in foods such as fish liver, cheese, yolk, bran, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, almonds, nuts, lentils.

Magnesium is essential for the hardness of teeth and bones. This element is also present in the muscles, nerves, lungs, brain, giving them density and elasticity. Lack of magnesium in the diet very quickly affects nervous tension.

It is magnesium salts that are able to protect our body from the negative effects of various stresses, by supporting the work of cell membranes in the nervous system. Contained in tomatoes, spinach, nuts, celery, wine berries, bran.

Iron is the main element for blood oxidation. Without it, the formation of hemoglobin - red balls - is impossible. With a lack of this microelement, anemia, apathy, reduced vitality and pale infirmity are observed. In the body, iron is deposited in the liver.

Found in lettuce, spinach, asparagus, strawberries, pumpkin, onions, and watermelon.

Mineral salts are inorganic elements. This means that the human body cannot synthesize them on its own. The task of a person is a competent approach to building his diet.

In this case, the need for a strict balance in the ratio of mineral salts should be taken into account. Their wrong combination or excess can be harmful and have negative consequences.

For example, an excessive amount of calcium in the diet can lead to the formation of calcium-containing kidney stones. Also, this element must be correctly combined with phosphorus and potassium. With an excess of table salt, edema and problems with the cardiovascular system may appear. This is because salt retains fluid in the body.

The biological role of mineral salts in the body is great. For their balanced intake, it is necessary to competently approach the preparation of the diet. In this case, it will not be superfluous to consult with nutritionists.

mineral salts perform a variety of functions in the body. They play an important role in plastic processes, the formation and construction of body tissues, regulate metabolism, acid-base balance and water metabolism, participate in protein synthesis, various enzymatic processes, and the work of the endocrine glands. More than 60 out of 104 mineral elements known in nature have already been found in the human body. Minerals present in food in significant quantities are called macronutrients. Among them, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium have the greatest hygienic value.

Calcium is part of the bone tissue. It has a significant effect on the metabolism and work of the heart muscle, helps to increase the body's defenses, participates in the process of blood clotting and has an anti-inflammatory effect. Calcium deficiency in the body adversely affects the processes of ossification, the function of the heart muscle and the course of a number of enzymatic processes. The daily calcium requirement for adults is 800 mg. Milk and dairy products (cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream) are especially rich in calcium.

Phosphorus, like calcium, is essential for bone formation. It plays an important role in the activity of the nervous system. Organic phosphorus compounds are consumed during muscle contraction, as well as in biochemical processes occurring in the brain, liver, kidneys and other organs. The daily norm of phosphorus is 1600 mg. The main sources of phosphorus: cheese, liver, eggs, meat, fish, beans, peas. To meet the body's need for calcium and phosphorus, the conditions for their optimal assimilation are important. Calcium and phosphorus are well absorbed when the ratio between them is 1:1.5 (milk and dairy products, buckwheat porridge with milk).

Sodium is found in many organs, tissues and body fluids. It plays an important role in the processes of intracellular and intercellular metabolism. Sodium is of great importance for maintaining the osmotic pressure in the blood and tissue fluids, as well as for water metabolism. A person receives sodium mainly from table salt, which gives taste to food and stimulates appetite. Under normal conditions, the daily requirement for sodium chloride is 10-15 g. At high air temperatures, the body can lose a significant amount of sodium chloride with sweat. Therefore, with profuse sweating, the need for it increases to 20-25 g.

Potassium is an indispensable bioelement for humans. The adult requirement for potassium is 2000-3000 mg per day and is mainly covered by the intake of plant foods and meat.

An important role in the life of the organism is also played by iron, cobalt, iodine, fluorine, bromine, potassium, chlorine, manganese, zinc. In the body and food, they are found in very small quantities. Minerals are contained and ingested with vegetables and fruits.

We must not forget about water. It is needed primarily for introducing nutrient solutions into the blood, for removing unnecessary metabolic products from the body, and also for regulating body temperature. The daily requirement of a young organism for water is 1-2.5 liters.

The lack of water leads to thickening of the blood, to the retention of harmful metabolic products in the tissues, to a violation of the salt balance. Its excess is no better, also leading to a violation of the water-salt balance in the body, creating an excessive load on the heart and excretory organs.