Which minerals are important for me? Is there a way to measure minerals that reflect individual mineral and dietary needs?
Getting a handle on your mineral balance can be a good tool for well-being and for optimizing health. We have previously written about the importance of different mineral forms for absorption in the body. But how and why are the minerals so dependent on each other - and which ways of measuring can reflect the absorption of them in the body? Here is the introduction to a series of articles about how different minerals actually work - and why.
Why are minerals so essential to our well-being?
- They are the basis for all activity in the body.
- Several minerals are included in the cells' energy production.
- They interact with and balance each other.
The ratio between the minerals is often more important than the actual levels.
One mineral can inhibit (antagonists) or facilitate (synergists) the uptake of another and several turnover pathways can be involved. For example:
- Availability of copper is necessary for iron to function optimally.
- Too much calcium without enough magnesium can make muscles stiffer.
- Too much copper without enough zinc can make someone more susceptible to viral infections.
Where and how are the minerals controlled in the body?
A mineral can float around in the blood without being absorbed into the cells. It can, for example, explain why someone can have an excess measured in the blood at the same time as there is a deficiency in the tissues. A mineral may need the presence of another nutrient in order for the body to use it beneficially. Some examples:
- Calcium, magnesium and vitamin K2 work together for bone structure, skeleton and teeth.
- Copper-dependent enzymes are required so that iron does not form too many oxidative and harmful radicals that can damage cell membranes.
- Chromium needs the presence of niacin and certain amino acids in order for blood sugar to be regulated.
To measure minerals
There are different types of blood samples such as serum, plasma, whole blood and red blood cells. One problem with measuring in the blood is that many minerals can vary widely throughout the day, as much as up to 30% in the case of serum iron. If you slept poorly, the serum iron can also be affected.
But you can measure minerals in other media than blood - such as in hair or urine.
If you measure minerals in the hair, it corresponds to what has circulated and been taken up in the tissues over a longer period of time. It also shows more adequately than single blood tests what is available in the tissues.
If you measure minerals in urine, you can get information about how the kidneys handle these minerals, about the health of the kidneys and about the possible toxicity of certain specific toxic metals that are excreted via the kidneys.
In order to get a complete picture of both the body's stores and handling of certain minerals such as iron, it may be necessary to supplement several types of measurement methods.
In the upcoming series of articles, you can read more about individual minerals and their importance for important functions in the body.
