2.2 Micronutrients

Often called trace elements, these nutrients are required by the body in very small quantities.

Micronutrients are usually measured in fractions of grams, e.g. micrograms, etc.

Micronutrients include all minerals and vitamins.

Vitamins

  • The word vitamin is a shortened form of the word "vitamine", which literally means ‘vital amine’. Vital amines were believed to be the micronutrient food factors which prevented deficiency diseases such as beriberi might be chemical amine. Although incorrect, this helped to build our current understanding of micronutrients.
  • A vitamin is a substance required by the body for normal function. Vitamins are substances that either not synthesized in the body, or synthesised in insufficient quantities by the body, and must therefore be obtained from the diet.

Minerals

  • These are substances that like vitamins are required for normal function. Unlike (most) vitamins they cannot be synthesised at all by the body. They must therefore be obtained from the diet.


Micronutrients are classified as follows:

1. Water-soluble vitamins – vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B10, B12 & vitamin C

2. Fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E & K

3. Minerals

    • Macro minerals: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium
    • Micro: minerals: chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc


The section that follows describe the various nutrients in terms of their:

role/ function

• deficiency signs (if these manifest in individuals, they should be checked by a health professional)

• sources

• RNI (UK reference nutrient intake)








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