Dietary Mineral

Dietary Mineral

Minerals are essential chemical elements vital for the functioning of living organisms, excluding carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen found in organic molecules. Key minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, and iodine, play crucial roles in maintaining our body's health.

Our body utilizes minerals for various functions, such as bone formation, hormone production, and heart rate regulation. Most dietary minerals are simple chemical elements, while larger mineral aggregates require breakdown for absorption. Bacteria play a pivotal role in breaking down primary minerals, releasing nutrients for their own sustenance and for other organisms in the ecological food chain.

The significant contribution of microorganisms to the global cycling and formation of biological minerals is increasingly recognized by scientists. Plants absorb dissolved minerals from the soil, which are then consumed by herbivores, facilitating the transfer of minerals up the food chain. Larger organisms may also ingest soil (geophagia) or visit mineral licks to obtain essential mineral nutrients unavailable through other dietary components.

While some sources indicate sixteen chemical elements necessary for supporting human biochemical processes, studies suggest mammals may require up to 26 elements, though the functions of many of these additional elements remain unclear. To ensure adequate mineral intake, a diverse diet comprising various foods is recommended, with mineral supplements occasionally advised by doctors in specific cases.