Functions Of Calcium

Question 1. Write sources and the effect of the deficiency of iron.
Answer.

Dietary Sources

Rich sources – organ meats (liver, heart and kidneys)
Good sources – leafy vegetables, pulses, cereals, fish, dried fruits, apple and meat
Poor sources – milk, wheat and rice
Haeme iron which comes from animal products and is from haemoglobin and myoglobin is efficiently absorbed (20 to 30 %)
Non haeme iron which is present in plants is inefficiently absorbed (1 to 5 %)

Importance of Calcium for Bone Health

Clinical Features Of Iron Deficiency

Calcium and Its Impact on Heart Function

Question 2. Functions Of Calcium.
Answer.

Functions Of Calcium

Calcium is required for bone formation
Calcium plays a role in muscle contraction Calcium increases the interaction between actin and myosin
Calcium is necessary for transmission of nerve impulse
Calcium influences cell membrane structure

Calcium’s Role in Hormonal Secretion and Cellular Signaling

Calcium plays a role in the transport of water and ions across the cell membrane
Calcium activates the enzymes pancreatic lipase, ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase
Calmodulin is a calcium binding regulatory protein Calcium calmodulin complex activates the enzymes adenylate cyclase and protein kinase
Certain hormones exert their action through the mediation of calcium and thus calcium acts as a second messenger or third messenger for such hormonal action e.g. – epinephrine and anti diuretic hormone
Calcium is required for the release of certain hormones from the endocrine glands e.g. insulin, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin

Reader Interactions