Topic overview

Start with the big picture

Mineral classification uses both the amount required each day and the amount present in the body. Macrominerals are required at more than 100 mg/day and account for more than 0.01% of body weight; examples include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur. Microminerals fall below those thresholds and are subdivided into trace elements, generally required at 1–100 mg/day, and ultratrace elements, with the smallest daily requirements. Some elements appear in both trace and ultratrace lists because requirements can overlap. The lesson also places classification in a physiological context: minerals support structural, enzymatic, hormonal, and other functions, while deficiency or excess can disrupt them. Absorption and homeostasis are influenced by dietary factors and by the kidney, gastrointestinal tract, and hormones.