Dietary minerals are essential inorganic elements that our bodies need in small amounts to function properly. They are often divided into two categories: macrominerals and trace elements.

1. Macrominerals: These are minerals that the body needs in larger quantities. Major macrominerals include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur.
– Calcium: Essential for bone and tooth health, blood clotting, nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
– Phosphorus: Plays a key role in bone and tooth formation as well as energy metabolism.
– Magnesium: It is required for more than 300 enzyme reactions in the body, including energy production and muscle function.
– Sodium, potassium and chloride: important for fluid balance, blood pressure, nerve and muscle function.
– Sulfur: A component of essential amino acids, necessary for the formation of proteins.

2. Trace elements: These are minerals that the body needs in much smaller amounts, but they are just as important. Trace minerals include iron, zinc, copper, selenium, iodine, manganese, fluorine and chromium.
– Iron: Essential for the transport of oxygen in the blood, the formation of red blood cells and immune function.
– Zinc: required for growth and development, wound healing, immune system and macronutrient metabolism.
– Copper: Plays a role in connective tissue formation, skin pigmentation, iron metabolism and immune function.
– Selenium: important antioxidant, contributes to thyroid health, immune function and reproduction.
– Iodine: crucial for the production of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism, growth and development.
– Manganese: participates in several enzymatic reactions, including those involved in carbohydrate, lipid, and nitrogen metabolism.
– Fluorine: Essential for dental health, strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.
– Chromium: May play a role in regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Dietary minerals are essential because they are involved in many essential biological functions, including bone and tooth formation, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, pH regulation, oxygen transport, immune function, energy metabolism, and many other vital processes. An imbalance or deficiency of minerals can lead to various health problems, including bone disorders, cardiovascular problems, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, growth and development abnormalities, and dermatological conditions. Therefore, it is essential to eat a balanced and varied diet to ensure adequate mineral intake.