Mineral supplements

Why are minerals important?

Minerals, like vitamins, are essential for effective bodily function. Minerals have a variety of roles and functions, from helping to build bone tissue and transmitting nerve signals, to making hormones and regulating heart rate. If you have a mineral deficiency, you may experience symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, weak bones, muscle spasms and poor concentration.

In order to ensure that you get all the minerals you need, it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables and healthy foods, such as fish, nuts, poultry, dairy foods and wholegrain carbohydrates. If you do not eat healthily, you may not be getting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals you need and your body may not function as effectively as it should as a result.

Important minerals

Minerals have a variety of important roles and functions; important minerals include:

●     Calcium: calcium is important for the development and growth of strong bone tissue. Calcium is particularly important for young children, as it helps to create strong bones, teeth and nails and will reduce the risk of conditions such as brittle bones and osteoporosis in later life. Symptoms of calcium deficiency include brittle and weak bones and weak teeth and nails. Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese, yoghurt and leafy green vegetables.

●     Iron: iron is a very important mineral; it is important for good red and white blood cell function, muscle function and the immune system. A deficiency of iron may cause tiredness, weakness, a lack of concentration and irritability. Good sources of iron include leafy green vegetables, red meat, egg yolks, oily fish, nuts and wholegrain foods.

●     Magnesium: magnesium has a variety of important roles, including cell repair, converting food into energy, controlling body temperature and helping to build strong bones. A deficiency of magnesium may cause muscle spasms and weakness. Good sources of magnesium include leafy green vegetables, nuts and wholegrain foods.

●     Zinc: zinc is important for the function of the immune system and is also involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. A zinc deficiency may cause lesions on the skin, diarrhoea, loss of taste and smell and slow healing. Good sources of zinc include meat, milk, shellfish, wholegrain foods and brown rice.

Who can benefit from mineral supplements?

If you are a healthy individual and you eat a balanced diet, you should not need to take health supplements; your diet should provide you with all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. However, not everyone has a healthy diet and some people have conditions, which affect their ability to eat. If this is the case, it may be beneficial to take health supplements, but you should contact your doctor or speak to a pharmacist before you start taking vitamin or mineral supplements.

If you have a mineral deficiency, for example if you have anaemia as a result of an iron deficiency, you may be advised to take supplements to increase the amount of iron in your body. You should always seek medical advice before starting to take health supplements.