title: Intestinal absorption in health and disease: micronutrients.
abstract: The main theme of this chapter concerns the precise biochemical mechanisms involved in stages up to, and including, gastrointestinal absorption of vitamins and certain selected minerals. Essential data regarding sequential events, immediately following absorption of these micronutrients, are also included. There is reference to water-soluble vitamins that are, in general, either coenzymes in various metabolic reactions or carriers of certain biochemical groupings. In contrast, fat-soluble vitamins frequently function as integral components of cell membranes; they, too, receive ample attention. It is appropriate, nevertheless, to recognize that some minerals required in very small amounts are closely allied biochemically with particular vitamins; these specific associations are apportioned emphasis at relevant places in the text. Although predominant discussion centres on the physiological state, clinical reference is necessarily made to gastrointestinal disorders in which imbalance of vitamins and minerals consequently results in an additional detrimental impact on health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, 3-18B Agricultural Forestry Building, Edmonton, Alta, Canada T6G 2P5. tapa.basu@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Tapan K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donaldson
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D058085:Iron Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000378:metabolism*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D017608:Chromium Compounds; D058085:Iron Compounds; D018977:Micronutrients; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D014801:Vitamin A; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D014812:Vitamin K; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid