The facts about minerals absorption by the body
A large range of minerals are vital for a healthy body and
recommended daily allowances of these mineral have been
published to address these health concerns. Just by consuming
the recommended daily allowance in minerals is not the answer to
the problem of mineral deficiency, the problem in mineral
deficiency is the absorption of minerals.
Absorption is the process in which nutrients are passed into the
bloodstream. The absorption of minerals by the body is affected
by many factors. Different minerals have different absorption
rates, mineral absorption rate is affected by an unhealthy diet,
diet can also affect absorption level by influencing the
elimination rate, the condition of the intestine can affect
absorption levels, choosing the right mineral balance and form
of mineral will also affect absorption. These are a few of the
problems associated with mineral absorption.
Diet is a major factor in our mineral absorption. Due to soil
depletion and demineralisation many of the foods we eat today
are lacking in minerals. Processed foods, excess protein and
refined sugars need extra minerals that are stored in our bodies
to digest and remove them. This removal process requires enzymes
which in tern need minerals such as zinc, chromium and copper to
work. This cycle promotes mineral deficiency. To add to the
problem, milk, alcohol, dairy products, drugs and a high fibre
diet all inhibit the absorption of minerals. The western diet of
processed foods contributes to the formation of mucoid plaque
onto the lining of the colon. This plaque prevents water and
minerals from being reabsorbed by the body.
A phenomenon known as secondary deficiency is another cause of
poor mineral absorption. This is when an excess of one mineral
causes a deficiency in another. This is because minerals will
compete with each other for absorption and the same binding
sites. Iron, copper and zinc are competitive in this way. Copper
is needed for the conversion of iron to haemoglobin, but if
there is too much zinc then less iron will be available for
conversion. This in tern may cause a secondary deficiency in
iron (anemia), all due to too much zinc. Mineral supplements are
a main factor in secondary deficiency.
The over use of prescription drugs also helps in the deficiency
of minerals. Antibiotics, Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and aspirin
all inhibit the absorption of minerals especially zinc, chromium
and calcium. Moreover, the bodies own store of minerals are
depleted when the body draws on them when it tries to metabolise
theses drugs. The most common drug culprits for this are
laxatives, diuretics, chemotherapy drugs, and NSAIDs.
Bioavailability is the main issue that really counts with
minerals. Minerals must be in a form that can make it to the
cells. Minerals that are not bioavailable just get passed
straight through the body. Bioavailability has a precursor which
is absorption. To do any good minerals must be absorbed through
the intestine walls into the blood stream. Getting enough
minerals through food is difficult due to modern farming
practices, supplements are a good way but come in many different
forms - elemental, ionic, colloidal and chelated. But which is
the best form for absorption?
Elemental minerals are the cheapest to produce which makes them
the most common form of supplement in shops. The problem is that
only 1% to 8% of the mineral supplement is absorbed by the body
which makes it an inefficient way of absorbing the correct
amount of minerals. Also a lot of the excipients used to bind
these cheaper supplements can act as blockers in absorption.
Ionic mineral are the next step up. Ionic means in the form of
ions. An ion is an incomplete unstable molecule that wants to
bind with another molecule. Ions are absorbed through the gut by
becoming attached or chelated with special carrier proteins in
the intestine wall. To do this energy is needed. Ionic minerals
are a good source of nutrient for the body but they require an
acidic environment to be absorbed. The first few centimetres of
the small intestine are the best acidic environment for ionic
minerals to be absorbed. For the body to absorb an ionic mineral
right condition and timing needs to be in place - proper pH and
the right area of the intestine.
Colloidal minerals are minerals that are suspended in a
solution. The theory with colloidal minerals is that they are
easier to absorb because the mineral particles are suspended in
a liquid solution. The research into this theory has not even
been carried out and proven.
Chelate is from the Greek word meaning 'claw', a chelate is a
when a mineral is bound up with or attached with a carrier
molecule. Certain pairs of amino acids (dipeptides) are the
easiest of all chelates to be absorbed. Dipeptide chelates are
absorbed faster than ionic minerals because the chelated mineral
is bonded tighter keeping its integrity which allows it to be
absorbed easier, faster and requiring less metabolic energy.
Research has shown the best bioavailable minerals are amino acid
chelated minerals.
Other chelated agents in the diet such as fibre which contains
phytates, tea which contains tannins and rhurbarb which contains
oxalates are known as bad chelates. This is because phytates,
tannins and oxalates bind the minerals in the body to themselves
in the same way that amino acids do, this results in the
minerals not being absorbed by the body but excreted instead.
So in summary factors that help mineral absorption include the
form of the mineral ingested, small particle size, solubility,
ascorbic acid, and a good intestinal state. Factors that slow
down absorption are oxalic acid, phytic acid, fiber, sodium,
tannins, caffeine, protein, fat, antacids, rapid transit time,
malabsorption syndromes, precipitation by alkalinization, other
minerals, hormones and nutritional status.
In conclusion there are many problems with mineral absorption
and if an individual needs mineral supplements to compliment
their diet then it is best to take the supplements in a chelated
form. This offers many benefits which includes better more
natural absorption and less irritation to the digestive system
which reduces the 'competition' for absorption between minerals.