Nutrient requirements Sodium

FIGURE 2.49 An absorptive cell of the viUus. The part of the plasma membrane facing the lumen is the apical membrane, whereas that facing the blood supply is the basal and lateral (basolateral) membrane. The membrane-bound proteins used to mediate the uptake of a variety of nutrients requires the simultaneous co-transport of sodium ions. The diagram reveals that the transport of glucose cind amino acids is dependent on sodium ions. Sodium-independent transport systems also exist for many nutrients. The sodium depicted in the figure is supplied by intestinal secretions and need not be supplied by any particular diet. 

ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMES. Overall, man heis learned to protect himself from extreme heat or cold. However, nutrient requirements are increeised during adaptation to environmental temperatures above 97°F (37 ). Protein, energy, and water needs are elevated while losses of minerals and electrolytes (calcium, iron, sodium, and potassium) may be anticipated, all depending upon the amount of physical work performed. Also, vitamin C requirements may be increased by stress of a hot environment Exposure to a cold environment increases the metabwlic rate, and hence, the energy requirement of unprotected individuals. Warm clothing and dwellings have minimized the effects of cold on man. 

Potassium Phosphates. Potassium phosphate salts are analogous to the sodium salts and share many of the same functional properties. The higher cost of potassium hydroxide has restricted these salts to appHcations where high solubiUty or nutrient value is important. Potassium salts are manufactured like their sodium analogues, often on the same equipment. Many of the potassium phosphates are more deflquescent than their sodium analogues and may require special storage and moistureproof containers. 

Potassium is required for enzyme activity in a few special cases, the most widely studied example of which is the enzyme pymvate kinase. In plants it is required for protein and starch synthesis. Potassium is also involved in water and nutrient transport within and into the plant, and has a role in photosynthesis. Although sodium and potassium are similar in their inorganic chemical behavior, these ions are different in their physiological activities. In fact, their functions are often mutually antagonistic. For example, increases both the respiration rate in muscle tissue and the rate of protein synthesis, whereas inhibits both processes (42). 

Commonly administered LVPs include such products as Lactated Ringers Injection USP, Sodium Chloride Injection USP (0.9%), which replenish fluids and electrolytes, and Dextrose Injection USP (5%), which provides fluid plus nutrition (calories), or various combinations of dextrose and saline. In addition, numerous other nutrient and ionic solutions are available for clinical use, the most popular of which are solutions of essential amino acids or lipid emulsions. These solutions are modified to be hypertonic, isotonic, or hypotonic to aid in maintaining both fluid, nutritional, and electrolyte balance in a particular patient according to need. Indwelling needles or catheters are required in LVP administration. Care must be taken to avoid local or systemic infections or thrombophlebitis owing to faulty injection or administration technique. 

We have described the initial functions of calcium outside cells in Section 5.5. Here we draw attention again to its later function in association with manganese in 02 production, described in the previous section (see Figure 5.9). We have also left out of this chapter any reference to vanadium as the first functional use of it known to us is in nitrogenase which was probably not required in the earliest organisms (see Section 6.5). The sodium gradient was utilised to cotransport nutrients into cells and this function remains a major use of the Na+ ion in later organisms. 

The resorption process is facilitated by the large inner surface of the intestine, with its brush-border cells. Lipophilic molecules penetrate the plasma membrane of the mucosal cells by simple diffusion, whereas polar molecules require transporters (facilitated diffusion see p. 218). In many cases, carrier-mediated cotransport with Na"" ions can be observed. In this case, the difference in the concentration of the sodium ions (high in the intestinal lumen and low in the mucosal cells) drives the import of nutrients against a concentration gradient (secondary active transport see p. 220). Failure of carrier systems in the gastrointestinal tract can result in diseases. 

We can now consider some typical nutrient solutes like amino acids and phosphate. Such molecules are ionized, which means that they would not readily cross the permeability barrier of a lipid bilayer. Permeability coefficients of liposome membranes to phosphate and amino acids have been determined [46] and were found to be in the range of 10 11 -10 12 cm/s, similar to ionic solutes such as sodium and chloride ions. From these figures one can estimate that if a primitive microorganism depended on passive transport of phosphate across a lipid bilayer composed of a typical phospholipid, it would require several years to accumulate phosphate sufficient to double its DNA content or pass through one cell cycle. In contrast, a modern bacterial cell can reproduce in as short a time as 20 min. 

A builder is a compound that removes calcium and magnesium ions normally present in water, and, as a result, reduces the concentration of surfactants required to carry out the detergent action. Currently, the builder mainly used in practice is sodium tripolyphosphate. However, phosphates are plant nutrients and provoke eutrophication in lakes and streams which receive municipal wastewater contaminated with detergent residuals. Consequently, the use of phosphates in detergents has been restricted. 

Function Nutrient anticaking agent for sodium chloride. REQUIREMENTS... 

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