Dietary mineral

Dietary minerals are inorganic chemical elements that organisms need in small (trace minerals) or moderate (macrominerals) amounts to maintain health and enable key physiological processes[6][3][9][1][7]. The most recognized dietary minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, chloride, and sulfur (macrominerals, needed in higher amounts); and iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, and fluoride (trace minerals, needed in trace amounts)[6][3][9]. These minerals perform a range of biological functions: they are structural components of bones and teeth, co-factors for essential enzymes, regulators of nerve transmission and muscle contraction, participants in fluid and acid-base homeostasis, and contributors to immune and endocrine (hormonal) functions[6][1][3][2]. Unlike vitamins, dietary minerals are elemental and cannot be synthesized by the body, requiring sufficient dietary intake to prevent deficiency-related diseases or toxicity if consumed excessively[6][9][3]. Dietary minerals are not single biochemical entities and do not fit definitions of molecular targets such as receptors, transporters, enzymes, or transcription factors[6][9][3]. Thus, drugs do not "target" dietary minerals directly as molecular entities, and the term "dietary mineral" does not have an established canonical abbreviation or an accepted use as a drug target. Rather, each mineral (e.g., "Calcium ion", "Zinc ion", etc.) is considered an individual entity that might be discussed in detail if queried by name. The inclusion of "Dietary mineral" as a singular drug or molecular target is conceptually and technically incorrect. It should be mapped to specific mineral names (e.g., "Calcium ion", "Iron ion") for structured scientific or therapeutic purposes.

Other names

Essential mineralMacromineralMicromineralTrace element