Essential Nutrients: Minerals, Vitamins, and Their Functions

This assignment delves into the critical importance of minerals and vitamins as essential nutrients for the human body. It highlights that the human body cannot produce these nutrients on its own, therefore, external sources are required. The assignment focuses on two key nutrients: iron, a vital mineral, and vitamin B12, an essential vitamin. The discussion covers the functions of iron, particularly its role in red blood cell formation, oxygen transport, and muscle function, as well as its sources, which are categorized into haem and non-haem groups. It also discusses the functions of Vitamin B12, including its involvement in DNA regulation, red blood cell formation, neurological functions, and metabolism, along with its sources, which are primarily animal-based. The assignment also includes some interesting facts about each nutrient and provides references to support the information presented.

Running head: IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY
IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY1
Essential nutrients are a category of nutrients, which the human body cannot prepare by
itself and requires external sources to replenish the body with such nutrients. Minerals and
vitamins are such essential nutrients that are required for completion of several crucial pathways
inside the human body (Mann and Truswell 2017). Therefore, the prime aim of this assignment
to point out importance of these inorganic (minerals) and organic (vitamins) essential nutrients
and discuss some unknown facts about them. For further discussion, iron has been selected as the
required mineral and Vitamin B12 has been selected as the essential vitamin.
Mineral
Iron is an important mineral needed for several important aspects of human body. By
combing to several proteins, or taking part in few physiological reactions, iron helps for the
development of human cells (Prasad 2013).
Functions
The primary function of iron inside human body is in the formation of red blood cells in
the human body. IT binds the oxygen molecules and helps the red blood cells to transport oxygen
for the cellular function to the entire body. Further in the muscle cells, with myoglobin, it helps
in the storage, transfer and release of oxygen in the muscle tissues. Further, it helps to promote
healthy brain functions and maintains healthy immune system (Abbaspour, Hurrell and Kelishadi
2014).
Sources
Depending on the type of iron found, the iron sources are divided into two sections, haem
group and non-haem group. The haem group contains animal sources of iron such as meat, red

IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY2
meat, poultry and fishes. On the other hand, the non-haem group is inclusive of plant derived
iron such as vegetables, legumes, cereals and beans (Abbaspour, Hurrell and Kelishadi 2014).
Fun facts
 The haem iron is absorbed quickly than the non-haem iron.
 Iron is also important for respiration and metabolism for energy.
 It works as catalyst in the reaction for collagen formation (Prasad 2013).
Vitamin
Vitamin B12 is an important essential vitamin needed for successful physiological
function. This vitamin is also known as cobalamin and deficiencies can affect the neurological
system of human body (Fenech 2012).
Functions
The vitamin B12 is involved in the formation and regulation of human DNA, as well as
involved in the formation of red blood cells. There are several neurological functions, in which it
helps as catalyst and helps to regulate different responses. Further, this essential vitamin is
involved in the human metabolism and plays crucial roles in the formation of fatty acids and
energy production (Nielsen et al. 2012).
Source
This vitamin is naturally present in animal food products such as poultry, fish, meat, egg
and milk products. However, plant food sources lack the presence of vitamin B12 in them, but
fortified cereals are a good source of vitamin B12. Few of the yeast products are also good
source for Vitamin B12 (Fenech 2012).

IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY3
Fun facts
 Deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to neurological disorder and anemia, as it is
involved in the red blood cell production.
 It is the largest and structurally complex vitamin found largely in the animal food
product and absent in the plant food sources.
 It is industrially produced through bacterial fermentation and hence vegetarians
can fulfill their B12 requirement through supplementation (Nielsen et al. 2012).

IMPORTANCE OF MINERALS AND VITAMINS IN HUMAN BODY4
References
Abbaspour, N., Hurrell, R. and Kelishadi, R., 2014. Review on iron and its importance for
human health. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University
of Medical Sciences, 19(2), p.164.
Fenech, M., 2012. Folate (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 and their function in the maintenance of
nuclear and mitochondrial genome integrity. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular
Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 733(1), pp.21-33.
Mann, J. and Truswell, S. eds., 2017. Essentials of human nutrition, 5th Edn, pp. 165-210,
Oxford University Press.
Nielsen, M.J., Rasmussen, M.R., Andersen, C.B., Nexø, E. and Moestrup, S.K., 2012. Vitamin B
12 transport from food to the body's cells—a sophisticated, multistep pathway. Nature Reviews
Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 9(6), p.345.
Prasad, A., 2013. Trace elements and iron in human metabolism, 1st Edn, pp. 123-145, Springer
Science & Business Media.