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Essential Micronutrients definitions

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  • Micronutrients
    Compounds required in small quantities to support vital physiological functions and maintain overall health.
  • Vitamins
    Organic substances classified by solubility, crucial for metabolic processes and body maintenance.
  • Fat-soluble Vitamins
    Nutrients absorbed with dietary fat, stored in liver and adipose tissue, including A, D, E, and K.
  • Water-soluble Vitamins
    Compounds absorbed directly into the bloodstream, with excess eliminated via urine.
  • Vitamin D
    Nutrient synthesized through sun exposure, essential for bone health and calcium regulation.
  • Folate
    B vitamin vital for genetic material production and fetal neural development.
  • Folic Acid
    Synthetic form of a B vitamin added to grains to prevent birth defects related to neural tube formation.
  • Minerals
    Inorganic elements necessary for body structure, fluid balance, and metabolic reactions.
  • Major Minerals
    Elements required in amounts exceeding 100 milligrams daily, supporting functions like fluid regulation.
  • Trace Minerals
    Elements needed in minute quantities, often involved in specialized physiological roles.
  • Iron
    Element crucial for oxygen transport in blood, with deficiency being the most prevalent nutrient shortfall.
  • Calcium
    Inorganic element found in foods like broccoli, essential for bone structure and muscle function.
  • Sodium
    Major mineral important for maintaining fluid equilibrium and nerve signaling.
  • Neural Tube Defects
    Birth abnormalities prevented by adequate intake of certain B vitamins during pregnancy.
  • Liver
    Organ responsible for storing excess fat-soluble nutrients and aiding in metabolic regulation.