Importance Of Micronutrients

Micro nutrients are crucial to health. They are associated with certain normal processes in the body.

In this article, we discuss briefly functions of each micronutrient that is vitamins and minerals.

Micronutrient Function
Vitamins  
Vitamin A It is associted with maintaining good eye-sight. Other functions include prevent from aging, hair growth, memory enhancer.
Vitamin B complex Main function is energy production. Other functions include reduction of excess fat in the body, increase hunger, involve in protein synthesis, co enzymes or assist enzymes in various metabolic processes, growth and development, hair growth, improves memory.
Vitamin C Main function is to remove free radicals that damage cells and cell linings. They also help in healing wound, increase appetite
prevent scars due to pimples, help in anti aging
prevent damage of skin.
Vitamin D Resposnsible for calcium absorption, growth of bones and deposition of calcium on bones to make them strong. Other functions include prevent skin from damage because of UV, memory booster, maintains calcium phosphate ratio in the body, check levels of parathyroid hormone which is important for normal kidney functions.
Vitamin E It is an antioxidant. It is responsible for fertility in males. Other functions include healthy skin, hair growth, reduces scars due to pimples, protects skin from damage from UV light.
Vitamin K Responsible blood-clotting. Activates blood clotting factors to stop flow of blood during injury. It will activate some proteins that deactivate cancer cells.
Minerals  
Boron Responsible for healthy bones by keeping calcium-magnesium ratio at the right level.
Chloride Water balance in the body, levels of electrolytes are kept at normal levels, production of gastric juice in stomach to stop growth of unnecessary bacteria. Help in absorbing vitamin B12 and iron.
Calcium Essential for bones development, helps stop blood flow because of injuries, keep teeth and gums healthy, maintain heart beat, involved in DNA synthesis.
Chromium Helps maintain normal glucose levels, transport some proteins, aid in synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.
Cobalt Main component of vitamin B12, linked to production of red blood cells.
Copper Formation of blood protien haemoglobin, produces a skin tissue called elastrin, skin pigment called melanin, involve in synthesis of proteins, fats, help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, produce red blood cells, bone maintenance.
Fluoride Essential for healthy gums and teeth. Prevents decay of teeth, formation of cavities, dental caries in children due to over intake of sweets. It destroys microorganisms that reside inside mouth.
Iodine Essential for synthesizing thyroid hormone. Deficiency leads to hormone imbalance, which impairs growth and development, helps get energy by breaking fats, aids in converting vitamin A to its active form, reduces bad cholesterol, maintain healthy hair, nails, etc.
Iron Important part of hemoglobin that carries oxygen across the body. It activates some enzymes that produce energy.
Magnesium Contraction and relaxation of muscles of heart, produce energy, it is a component of bones and teeth, produce sex hormones, maintain nervous system properly, maintain its ratio with calcium.
Manganese It act as co enzyme (assist enzyme and speed up reaction) in many enzymatic reactions that produce cholesterol. Increase absorption of vitamin B, C and E by the body.
Molybdenum Responsible for enzymatic reactions that involve conversion of fats and also elimination of waste products in the form of uric acid from body. Prevents tooth cavities, involved in various metabolic process.
Phosphorous Essential for bones, check levels of calcium and magnesium in bones.
Potassium It is an electrolyte very important for kidney functioning, maintain water balance, important in passing signals from brain, help in contraction and relaxation of muscles.