The human body is a very complex system that is engaged in the implementation of various processes. One of them is mineral metabolism. It is worth noting that this process is a combination of several separate smaller procedures that occur inside the body.
Basic information
The analysis begins with the question of what it is - mineral metabolism.
As noted earlier, this is a combination of several other processes, namely: absorption, assimilation, distribution, transformation and excretion of certain elements from the body that are inside it in the form of inorganic components.
A feature of mineral metabolism is that when substances are combined with biological fluid, they will create the internal environment of the body. This medium will have some constant physical and chemical properties. Due to this, constant normal operation of both cells and tissues will be ensured.
Mineral metabolism is important in the diagnosis of many diseases. What does it mean? It is understood that by the content and concentration of a certain number of mineral components in body fluids, we can draw conclusions about the state of human health. Naturally, if this process is disrupted, there will be either a lack of some components, or their complete absence. In some cases, mineral metabolism, or rather its violation, can be the initial cause of the development of the disease, in others it only causes consequences.
Component Education
The process of absorption of mineral components occurs in the human digestive tract, from where they enter the blood and lymph. If we talk about the quantitative content of these elements in the human body, the largest part is occupied by chloride, phosphate and carbon compounds. These include calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium salts. In addition to these substances, the body contains several more trace elements involved in mineral metabolism. These include compounds of iron, zinc, copper, manganese and others.
As for the main source of these elements, these are food products. However, not all foods are equally saturated with these substances. The highest content of these substances is characterized by meat, milk, brown bread, as well as vegetables and legumes.
During mineral salt metabolism within the human body, these components are mixed with the aquatic environment. In this way, completely soluble or partially soluble compounds are obtained. After that, such components begin to exist in the form of ions.
It is worth noting that during mineral metabolism in the body, not all compounds are dissolved or partially dissolved. Insoluble compounds may also form.
Excess Mineral Components
Naturally, a person cannot accurately assess the amount of substances in the body and no longer use unnecessary ones, and therefore an overabundance of any components is inevitable. The withdrawal of the excess amount of components is carried out in particular by the work of the kidneys and intestines. Mineral metabolism in the body is due to the large amount of fluid, as is the withdrawal of significant excesses. When consuming a large amount of table salt, an increase in such components in the body may be too strong, and an increase in drinking water consumption is required to restore balance.
Exchange of water and salts
These are two inextricably linked procedures. Since water-salt is an integral part of the complete exchange of mineral components. What is meant by this?
Under water-salt and mineral metabolism is meant the totality of the process of entry of these components into the body and their further distribution in the internal environment. As well as breeding. The main component in this exchange is the compound NaCl. Maintaining a normal metabolism of these substances provides a person with a constant volume of blood and other important fluids, stable osmotic pressure, and also maintains acid-base balance. The regulation of osmotic pressure, for example, is due to the participation of sodium in the metabolism. Scientists have found that approximately 95% of all plasma osmotic pressure is regulated precisely by this element.
Briefly about the functions of minerals
All mineral substances, in addition to participating in the exchange, perform several important functions:
- Providing such an important process as blood coagulation.
- They create a potential called membrane, as well as an action potential for excitable cells.
- Mineral substances themselves are contained in the structure of various human organs. Inorganic components related to minerals may occur in the form of insoluble compounds. Such compounds are found mainly in bone and cartilage.
- Minerals are actively involved in redox reactions and some others.
Biochemistry of components. What is the role?
The biochemistry of minerals is one of the most important in our body. This is due to the fact that the components involved in such processes support human life. They are the most important link in the transmission of an electrochemical signal in human muscle fibers and nerve tissues.
In addition, mineral components are considered catalysts for many biochemical reactions and are considered building materials for the skeleton. It is very important to note here that the human body itself is not capable of producing mineral substances, and their reserves are quite small. For these two reasons, it is necessary to carefully monitor the sufficient intake of all the necessary mineral components in the human body along with food and, if necessary, drink a course of vitamins.
Macronutrients and trace elements
All mineral substances involved in the metabolism can be divided into two categories - macro- and microelements.
If we talk about macronutrients, then the need for these substances per day is quite large. It is measured in milligrams, and for some components, even grams, which for the body is considered huge quantities. If we talk about trace elements, then the need for them is much less. It is worth saying that the average person rarely lacks minerals, since there are a lot of them in food. There are very few trace elements in the human body and they are calculated in tens of milligrams or less. However, the distribution of these substances is very uneven. For example, the tissue richest in minerals in the human body is the tooth tissue, which consists of 98% of these components.
The role and exchange of water in the body
The human body is approximately 65% fluid (60-70% of the total body weight). It is known that water is in three liquid phases - intracellular and extracellular fluid, as well as transcellular. The main amount of fluid is inside the cells, this is approximately 40-45% of the entire aqueous component. The extracellular fluid structure includes plasma, lymph, and intercellular fluid. If we talk about the percentage of the total human body mass, then blood plasma - 5%, liquid - 16%, lymph - 2%. Transcellular fluid, on the other hand, occupies only 1-3%, and in its composition it is similar to the extracellular component. This type of fluid includes cerebrospinal and intraocular.
The distribution of water entering the body when drinking water (1-2 liters), food (approximately 1 liter of liquid) is carried out between all three phases. The distribution process depends on the quantitative content of osmotic substances in each phase.
The value of liquids
Inside the body, fluids play another very important role - maintaining the ionic asymmetry between the intracellular and extracellular component. The balance between them is an important factor for the stable and proper functioning of all cells of all organs and systems.
Other biological fluids are actively involved in mineral metabolism. It is worth noting that in their ionic composition they differ significantly from blood plasma. In the end, we can add that the most significant role in the process of water-salt metabolism, which is part of the mineral, is played by the kidneys and some special hormones from the same group.
In order to maintain the metabolism of these substances at the proper level, certain rules should be observed:
- During the day you need to drink enough drinking water.
- It is recommended to choose mineral or table, but not carbonated liquid.
- The main source of minerals are fruits and vegetables. In this regard, it is necessary every day to use them together with other food products.
- Currently, there are dietary supplements - biologically active additives. In some cases, their use is necessary when you need to quickly saturate the human body with all the necessary minerals.
The role of some ions in the exchange
Some ions play a much larger role in metabolism than others. In this case, we are talking about sodium and potassium ions. These two groups of elements are responsible for the pH level, for osmotic pressure, as well as for the volume of fluid in the human body. In addition, they are actively involved in the transport of amino acids, sugars, as well as some other ions through the cell membrane.
Minerals in children
It is worth noting separately the course of the exchange process of these components in children. They have a rapid and constant growth and development of all systems and organs. And this affects the exchange of mineral components. The main feature is that the intake of these substances and their elimination from the body are not balanced among themselves, as in adults.
Intensive growth and development, as well as the formation of new tissues, actively absorb all minerals. However, at the same time, it is worth paying attention to the ionic component of blood plasma and the composition of extracellular fluid. Almost throughout the entire period of life, it remains unchanged. Differences are observed only in newborns or in young children.
Summing up, we can say that the metabolism of these substances in the body, its stable operation and maintenance of all elements at the proper level is the key to the full and healthy development of children and the absence of diseases in adults.