Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
In plants and animals, mineral absorption, also called mineral uptake is the way in which minerals enter the cellular material, typically following the same pathway as water. In plants, the entrance portal for mineral uptake is usually through the roots. Some mineral ions diffuse in-between the cells. In contrast to water, some minerals are ...
Mineral deficiency is a lack of the dietary minerals, the micronutrients that are needed for an organism's proper health. [1] The cause may be a poor diet , impaired uptake of the minerals that are consumed, or a dysfunction in the organism's use of the mineral after it is absorbed.
Finally, although mineral and elements are in many ways synonymous, minerals are only bioavailable to the extent that they can be absorbed. To be absorbed, minerals either must be soluble or readily extractable by the consuming organism. For example, molybdenum is an essential mineral, but metallic molybdenum has no nutritional benefit.
The soil mineral apatite is the most common mineral source of phosphorus, from which it can be extracted by microbial and root exudates, [79] [80] with an important contribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. [81] The most common form of organic phosphate is phytate, the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues.
Phytic acid (deprotonated phytate anion in the picture) is an antinutrient that interferes with the absorption of minerals from the diet. Antinutrients are natural or synthetic compounds that interfere with the absorption of nutrients. [1] Nutrition studies focus on antinutrients commonly found in food sources and beverages.
Phytic acid and phytate have a strong binding affinity to the dietary minerals calcium, iron, and zinc, inhibiting their absorption in the small intestine. [1] The lower inositol polyphosphates are inositol esters with less than six phosphates, such as inositol penta- (IP5), tetra- (IP4), and triphosphate .
Assimilation is the process of absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other chemicals from food as part of the nutrition of an organism. In humans, this is always done with a chemical breakdown (enzymes and acids) and physical breakdown (oral mastication and stomach churning).
Mineral oil is used as a laxative to alleviate constipation by retaining water in stool and the intestines. [11] Although generally considered safe, as noted above, there is a concern of mist inhalation leading to serious health conditions such as pneumonia. [12] Mineral oil can be administered either orally [13] or rectally. [14]