Article: The Personalities of Minerals

Part 1:
Minerals are Essential For Optimum Health

Everyone knows that minerals are very important to the biological well being of all living things. In fact, they have been proven to be more essential than we had previously believed. A mineral of some kind is involved in almost every reaction in your body; a mind boggling thought to say the least! They combine with other nutrients to form complex enzyme systems necessary to digest and metabolize fats, carbohydrates, proteins and hormones.

Body levels of available minerals must be kept at optimum levels for effective and efficient feed conversion. In horses, we term "hard keepers" those whose digestive efficiencies are low. It simply takes more and better quality food to keep them in peak condition because they are absorbing a smaller percentage of it. They can be compared to a car with an engine out of tune that uses a lot of gas. With the high cost of fuel (and feed) these days, we all know that it is less expensive and better for the car to get it tuned up than to keep running it, so inefficiently and possibly putting undo stress on different parts of the engine. So too with the animal body, ourselves included.

A "tuned-up" horse with optimum available minerals in his body eats less food, has more efficient digestion of food he does eat (due to, the small size of his stomach), has less manure, and better overall condition than one who is "trying to fire on only three spark plugs". There is also less stress to other parts of the body systems which would normally try to cover for inefficient ones.

Many researchers place more importance on minerals than even vitamins, because they are not able to be synthesized in the body at all, whereas most vitamins are, either by the body itself or micro-organisms in the gut. Even more astounding, vitamins must be activated by minerals in a biologically usable form to be active in the body! Such is the case in Glucose Tolerance Factor of blood sugar regulation and insulin, with manganese and chromium. And, as the body ages, it loses its ability to absorb minerals from food eaten. This presents one good argument for proper supplementation.

Minerals occur in Nature in many chemical forms, some of which are able to be utilized by the body, and some not. It is generally the form that is most important in determining the chemical activity, rather than assigning a "good" or "bad" role to each element itself. An impressive example of the differences of chemical forms is ordinary table salt. Composed of the burning and poisonous metal sodium and equally toxic gas chlorine, when bound chemically together become not only harmless but absolutely essential to life!

Salt or rock forms of minerals (inorganic forms) naturally found in our earth are generally not able to be utilized by the body without being "processed". They must first be broken down and made soluble by stomach acids, then the mineral element surrounded and bound chemically to neutralize the mineral's electronic charge. If the mineral has been correctly surrounded (chelated) by the proper elements (amino acids or hydrolyzed protein), the total package (chelated mineral) is now able to be absorbed and used by the body in metabolism.

Unfortunately, this process occurs only at random in the body, and its efficiency is not high. Thus, is the case with ordinary mineral supplements in the form of oxides, sulfates and carbonates. Furthermore, some of these mineral forms can have deleterious side effects when used in feeds. They can't often be used in amounts great enough to overcome their chelation inefficiency, and still be absorbed in large enough quantities to satisfy the body's needs considering present soil depletion of our farm ground.

In the old days, these inorganic forms of minerals were suitable because our soils were not so deficient in necessary minerals as they are today, and far less supplements were needed if any at all. Amounts necessary for supplementation stayed well below toxicity levels and salt or rock forms did just fine.

But today, with much publicized decline of essential minerals in our farm ground, mineral supplements become important - especially in race and performance horses, and in ourselves as well! Farmers simply cannot afford to fertilize with copper, zinc, manganese, iron, magnesium, selenium and cobalt and still sell hay for the same competitive prices as farmers who don't fertilize. They can barely afford to use nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and lime, and many have cut sown on these. Furthermore, since plants do not require the same minerals or amounts of minerals that animals do, one cannot see this aspect of nutrition with the naked eye. Plants can be deficient in the necessary minerals to produce healthy animals and yet be perfectly healthy themselves. The Ohio-Mississippi Valley, with its iodine and cobalt, is just one example.

Now for the good news! Modern scientific research in nutrition has, in recent years, been able to successfully chelate the essential minerals to amino acids and hydrolyzed proteins in the laboratory - making in effect, a "predigested", very nontoxic mineral supplement. Being better than sequestered or extracted supplements - they can now be blended in proportions and ratios that fit the nutritional needs of the animals they are designed for, rather than those that simply existed in the plant at the time of extraction. In addition, these amino acid chelates are absorbed up to 300 times better than typical inorganic minerals and do not change the pH of the digestive tract like the inorganic forms. This chelation protects the mineral from entering into unwanted chemical reactions in the gut and producing either chemical forms that are unwanted by, or unavailable to the body. They are really the "Cadillac" of supplements with much higher biological activity.

There are literally hundreds of chelating agents in nature. They take the names of gluconates, ascorbates, citrates, saccharides, etc. The amino acid chelates, however, have been shown to be the best of the lot for supplementation. Many medicinal herbs owe their reputations to their abilities to concentrate certain chelated trace minerals formed by soil bacteria at their roots. Some common examples of chelates are: vitamin B12 (a cobalt chelate), hemoglobin (an iron chelate), and chlorophyll (a magnesium chelate).

When looking for the right supplement for your horse, consider the amount of work he does, his breed (some use more energy just standing around being nervous), his individual disposition, his age (is he growing), and what level of nutrition can be expected from the feed you give him. reading labels is a must! Many supplements on the market today , unfortunately, are still using outdated and obsolete recipes when determining their mineral potencies. We need ever stronger and more potent formulas as our soil fertility continues to decline, just to keep breaking even!

And price wise, most of the time we have not been getting what we pay for in biological availability anyway. For example: iron oxide is nothing more than ground up rusty nails; iron (ferrous) sulfate can cause diarrhea; magnesium sulfate is just epsom salts, which irritates the intestine causing it to rapidly expel its contents. A great cure for constipation but hardly a good source of magnesium for the diet. Copper sulfate is an astringent, and calcium carbonate neutralizes the very stomach acid needed to digest it and other foodstuffs in the stomach with it at the same time. In fact, it is often prescribed by physicians for heartburn, acid indigestion and sour stomach. One of its brand names is Alka -2®. All that glitters is not gold.

Part 2:
How They Function in Your Body

Minerals function in the body in a various ways. In too low a level, body systems suffer, we know, from inefficient metabolism. But in too high a level, minerals can interfere with the metabolism of other minerals and do just as much damage, and sometimes more. They truly have "Jeckyll and Hyde" personalities, and in more than one way . The calcium/phosphorus ratio is probably the most well-known example. Too much calcium causes depression and excretion of phosphorus, and vice versa. We now know that magnesium plays a large part in this ratio, regulating the amount of calcium that stays soluble in the blood. Without magnesium, one may suffer from calcium deposits, soft tissues and from kidney stones. It is also possible to have arthritic deposits and osteoporosis (softening of the bones due to a calcium loss) at the same time, formerly a baffling case of too much and too little occurring simultaneously. Calcium, magnesium and phosphorus form a triad, each influencing and attempting to balance the other.

Surprised? Minerals compete with each other for absorption, and an excess of one can cause a deficiency of another, or more. Please take a look at these relationships in the Mineral Wheel that you can keep open as you read this. You can see the toxicity (excess) or deficiency (not enough) of one can upset the whole apple cart and possibly cause many others to be influenced and exhibit their own particular symptoms. Let's look at the minerals individually to see their effects.

Copper and iron also have a working relationship. They balance and regulate each other, as both are necessary for the production of hemoglobin, but too much or too little of either sets the ratio out of balance and can cause anemia. It is possible that too much iron with too little copper can actually cause anemia. I have seen quite a few race and performance horses with exactly this condition caused by over zealous trainers who went wild with iron shots, supplements, drenches and jugs. Iron alone is not the only factor. The whole picture becomes interestingly complex as we overlay the relationships of the other minerals, and see how they interact.

Surprised? Minerals compete with each other for absorption, and an excess of one can cause a deficiency of another, or more. You can see that toxicity (excess) or deficiency (not enough) of one can upset the whole apple cart and possibly cause many others to be influenced and exhibit their own particular symptoms. Let's look at the minerals individually to see their effects.

Calcium is necessary for skeletal development, contraction of muscles, muscle activity, coagulation of blood, heart rhythm, decreasing cell permeability, and reducing nerve irritability. Excess calcium increases the need for phosphorous, Vitamin D and zinc, and decreases the availability of protein , phosphorus, iron, iodine, manganese and zinc. It causes birth paralysis, depression of estrous cycle, joint problems, skin disorders, prevention of coagulation, colic and digestive upset, retarded growth, and kidney stones. A vitamin D supplement given to horses exposed to sunlight who are already manufacturing vitamin D on their own can trigger these symptoms in mild to severe cases, depending on the animal and the amount. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that aids in the use of calcium, and horses who are out in the sun several hours a day will manufacture all the vitamin D they need.

Calcium deficiency causes impaired bone growth, bowed legs, lameness, rickets, hemorrhage, poor growth, loss of appetite, low fertility, a craving for and consumption of abnormal materials such as wood and soil, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, nervousness, numbness in limbs, and tooth decay. Extreme physical exertion, such as racing or eventing, increases calcium excretion, so that more is needed in hardworking performance horses. Calcium and magnesium are carried in the blood by albumin (a protein). When a diet is low in protein so little albumin can be produced, much calcium and magnesium are lost in the urine. Since the stress of physical exertion also causes loss of calcium, it is important to see that an animal under these circumstances gets his necessary proportion of digestible protein.

Calcium ions are also known to exert a histamine release in the body, and are sometimes used in human therapy for mental disorders resulting from severe allergy. (Histamine is the product of allergic stimulus causing the itching and swelling we see in hives and the difficult breathing in asthma). I have achieved some spectacular results with highly allergic animals by giving a high protein diet, (balancing the amino acids, of course), and balancing the calcium/phosphorus ratio with calcium amino acid chelate. This "pre-digested" form of calcium is very readily available to the body, does not change the pH of the digestive tract, and seems to aid in a sort of desensitization. The trick is to keep everything in proper balance and proportion. "Shotgunning" by an inexperienced individual is definitely dangerous.

Phosphorus is necessary for bone formation, fat and carbohydrate metabolism, cell growth and repair, production of energy, kidney function, calcium and sugar metabolism, muscle activity, and utilization of vitamins. (A low protein diet is also generally low in phosphorus, so that maximum biological activity of vitamins is not achieved). Deficiency symptoms include depressed conception rates, stiff joints, debility, osteomalacia, cessation of growth, poor bone crystal formation, muscle weakness, anemia, increased susceptibility to infection, appetite loss, fatigue, irregular breathing, nervous disorders, overweight or weight loss. The symptoms also include a whole host of others relating to calcium, since the two minerals so highly interact.

Magnesium, for me, is a "fun" mineral, because I have done more with it than with any of the others. Again, I am referring to using the amino acid chelated form because it is readily available, and moves swiftly through the body to ease some symptoms in as little as 45 minutes. I have also observed results with as little as 3 grams of the amino acid chelate that I did not see with as much as 1/4 lb. of magnesium oxide! Magnesium has been often called "the miracle mineral," necessary as a catalyst for starch digestion, and activation of many enzyme systems. It is essential for proper nerve and muscle function, the acid/alkaline balance, blood sugar metabolism, protein synthesis, memory, attention span (directly related to learning ability), and endurance and stamina.

Deficiency of magnesium can damage the blood capillaries, cause dilation of blood vessels, irregular heart beat, kidney stones (if excess calcium), loss of hair, rough coat, diarrhea, swelling and bloat, great excitability, convulsions, eye problems, muscle twitching, tremors, nervous fatigue, and irritability. Deficiency symptoms can be triggered, as mentioned before, by a low protein diet, by excess sugar, by diuretics such as Lasix, and also by excess calciferol (a synthetic Vitamin D) which binds with magnesium to make it insoluble and therefore lost. Excess magnesium, on the other hand, increases the need for phosphorus and calcium, depresses the estrous cycle, depresses the state of mind, and can cause diarrhea.

I had a hunter/jumper mare that had a high requirement for magnesium (as most blooded horses do). Without her daily supplement, she refused jumps that were easily within her ability, barnstormed dangerously down the road, stiffened at the poll to fight the bit, refused to bend, absolutely could not tolerate leg pressure of any kind, and would not walk but would run until she dropped. She would shiver in warm weather, quivering her muscles along the croup and flank, and have a sort of seizure, bucking in place...and with no one around. A hair analysis showed low magnesium, although several blood tests were normal. Yet with a magnesium supplement, she was a different animal within 72 hours, and now with constant supplementation, she would collect, relax, do lateral dressage movements well, and take any jump within her ability. There were no more shivers and quivers or other odd behavior, although within three days of discontinuing the supplement, her "Hyde" personality again reared its ugly head, (as has happened several times when my supplies ran low). Again, I used the amino acid chelated form of magnesium because I got absolutely no results on this mare with as much as 1/4 lb. of magnesium oxide (the common magnesium supplement).

In diagnosing chronic deficiencies and toxicities, I use the hair analysis as my tool of preference. It is more accurate in showing a long-term look at overall metabolism than blood tests, which change every time food is eaten or the body is subjected to stress. Blood tests are more accurate for acute problems that come on rapidly. Also the body tends to "rob Peter to pay Paul", so to speak, in that it will draw minerals from soft tissue and bones to keep up the levels in the blood needed to feed the brain. Complete blood tests, hormone studies, glucose tolerance and electrolyte tests completely missed this mare, who was compensating by sacrificing other parts of her body. Symptoms often occur in bones, nerves and muscles before the blood shows any decline at all. A hair analysis, however, will show the true picture. In the case of magnesium, studies show that normal blood, serum, and CSF levels may be maintained on a magnesium deficient diet because as much as half the magnesium in the bones may be drawn out before blood levels reveal a problem. The bones, in the meantime, suffer.

Since hair is growing all the time, it is like a computer giving us a continuous readout on the workings within it. Often, potential problems can be averted before symptoms appear. This mare was a sad case with a happy ending. I wonder how many innately pleasant horses are progressed to more and more severe training techniques and pain, when they simply do not feel well. A very sad thought, indeed!

Part 3:
Trace Minerals Disappearing and Being Ignored in Our Foods

Trace minerals are called such because the actual amounts of them needed by the body in metabolism are quite small, as compared to major macronutrients like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. However, this fact in no way reflects the severity of symptoms their deficiencies or excesses can cause, and some of the effects of trace mineral imbalance are much more devastating than those of the macronutrients. By this line of reasoning, then, they are in effect, much more potent, bringing changes with their smaller amounts.

Unfortunately, trace minerals have been neglected for years in nutrition research, partly due to our previous lack of sophistication in analytic processing. They are just now taking their rightful place on the nutritional stage. Their cast of characters includes: potassium, iron, chromium, cobalt, copper, iodine, lithium, manganese, selenium, silicon, vanadium, zinc, boron, molybdenum, strontium, nickel, sodium, and chlorine. This article will survey the best-known of these, beginning with iron.

Most everyone knows that iron is essential to regulate oxidation and produce hemoglobin (the red pigment in blood that carries oxygen to every cell in the body), but did you know that iron deficiency has also been a contributing factor in poor resistance to infections? The requirement of iron increases with stress, and like some other minerals already discussed, iron utilization (especially in the production of hemoglobin) depends on proper dietary amounts of digestible protein. There are four globin molecules in one molecule of hemoglobin, and each globin molecule contains all the essential amino acids plus some nonessential ones.

In a test done way back in 1940 by the Mississippi Agricultural Experimental Station, legumes were found to be more effective in raising hemoglobin levels than leafy vegetables, such as turnip and mustard greens, collards, lettuce, tender greens and even spinach. The legumes used were soybeans, cowpeas, lima beans, and pinto beans - all very high in digestible protein with balanced amino acids.

Since iron is one root of all biochemical systems needing oxygen (taking in almost everything going on in the body), the range of deficiency symptoms can be as varied as the tissues of the body to include everything from breathing difficulties, brittle hooves, anemia, fatigue, poor growth, lack, of muscle tone, low resistance to infections and inability to concentrate. Iron is extremely important to be aware of in one's diet because only about 5 - 10% of it is actually absorbed into the body (copper must be present also for efficient metabolism to take place). Worms can deplete the body of enough iron to trigger deficiency symptoms as well.

Excess iron can have many of the same symptoms as a deficiency can, adding damage to the liver, pancreas and heart, plus arthritis. There are many kinds of anemia and iron level is only critical in some. Folic acid (a B vitamin), and copper can also be the culprits. Iron toxicity has become a problem in some race and performance horses, we have found, from overzealous trainers who think that iron shots, drenches and jugs are cure-alls for whatever ails their horses. The doses, in turn, create deficiencies in zinc, manganese, copper and possibly some others. Such great imbalances can be set up this way, and in the end, more damage is done than if the trainers had left the animal alone. Symptoms in such cases include shortness of breath, fatigue (ironic, since this is usually the symptom they are trying to cure), loss of weight, dizziness and stumbling.

Copper is necessary for blood formation with iron, as well as the formation of melanin (a pigment of hair and skin), healing, bone formation, the tensile strength of the coronary blood vessels, and reproduction.

Excess copper is considered of late to be a type of heavy metal poisoning with serious consequences. Copper moves through the body more slowly than do other elements, so it is harder to excrete excesses that are not needed or wanted by the body. Symptoms range from poor utilization of nitrogen, degeneration of the liver (the liver contains the highest accumulation), psychosis (the brain contains the second highest accumulation), hyperactivity, and Wilson's Disease. Symptoms of copper toxicity can be triggered by acid water (often well water from deposits in shale and loam, such as found in parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts) which leaches copper from plumbing; and by pregnancy (ceruloplasmin, a copper containing protein is elevated by estrogens to peak at term) if a high copper load is already flooding body tissues.

Among copper deficiency symptoms are anemia; reproductive failure, pronounced cardiovascular lesions, defects in pigmentation, hair structure and skeletal defects; degeneration of the nervous system, respiratory difficulties, abnormal hair growth, retained placenta, difficulty in foaling, depressed growth, bowed legs, enlarged joints, fragile bones, and fetal death and re-absorption. Deficiency symptoms can be triggered by a low protein diet, kidney disease, high molybdenum, zinc, iron and calcium in the diet.

Zinc, Manganese and Potassium

Zinc, a most amazing mineral, has recently received lots of attention in the journals. Controlling the amount of water retention, it is required for protein synthesis, skin growth and healing, production of DNA, manufacture of insulin, carbohydrate digestion, prostate gland function and phosphorus and protein metabolism.

Some zinc deficiency symptoms are: skin disorders and lesions; swollen pasterns; swelling of cells at the joints; decreased growth rate; poor appetite and feed efficiency; eye disorders (cloudy or white eyes); infertility in males due to insufficient sperm or sperm with low motility; or failure of sex organs to develop; loss of or distortion of sense of taste; slow healing of wounds; atherosclerosis; congenital deformities; and arthritis type bone deformities.

Zinc excess (toxicity) is associated with skin bleaching (possibly because copper is depressed and driven out), ropy tails, interference with enzyme and lymph systems, and diarrhea. Zinc toxicity is rare and there have been few cases to study.

Part 1: Minerals are Essential For Optimum Health

Part 2: How They Function in Your Body

Part 3: Trace Minerals Disappearing and Being Ignored in Our Foods

Zinc, Manganese and Potassium

Part 1:
Minerals are Essential For Optimum Health

Part 2:
How They Function in Your Body

Part 3:
Trace Minerals Disappearing and Being Ignored in Our Foods