Mineral metabolism disorders are abnormal levels of minerals -- either too much or too little -- in the blood.

Minerals are very important for the human body. They have various roles in metabolism and body functions. They are essential for the proper function of cells, tissues, and organs.

Some minerals, such as iron, make up part of many proteins and enzymes in the body. Others, such as potassium, help to produce proteins from amino acids and are involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Minerals also play a role in the building of muscle and bone and are important for normal body growth.

Metabolism refers to all the physical and chemical processes in the body that create and use energy, such as:

• Breathing
• Circulating blood
• Digesting food and nutrients
• Eliminating waste through urine and feces
• Regulating temperature

Disorders of mineral metabolism are sometimes passed from parents to their children through genes. Other medical conditions, such as starvation, diarrhea, or alcoholism, can cause mineral metabolism problems.

Minerals that play a large role in the body include:

• Calcium
• Copper
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Selenium
• Sodium
• Zinc

Disorders in which mineral metabolism problems often occur include:

• Disorders of phosphorus metabolism:
  • Hypophosphatemia
  • Osteomalacia
  • Rickets
  • Rhabdomyolysis
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypoparathyroidism
• Disorders of potassium metabolism:
  • Bartter syndrome
  • Periodic paralysis with hypokalemia
  • Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
  • Hyperaldosteronism - primary and secondary
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Proximal renal tubular acidosis
  • Distal renal tubular acidosis
  • Fanconi’s syndrome
  • Addison’s disease
  • Kidney disease
• Disorders of iron metabolism:
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Cirrhosis
• Disorders of copper metabolism:
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Menkes syndrome
• Disorders of calcium metabolism:
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Nephrocalcinosis
  • Pseudohypoparathyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Osteoporosis
  • Movement - unpredictable or jerky
  • Kidney stones
  • Milk-alkali syndrome
  • Paget’s disease
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN 1)
  • Osteomalacia
  • Rickets
• Disorders of sodium metabolism:
  • Dilutional hyponatremia (SIADH)
  • Hypernatremia
• Disorders of magnesium metabolism:
  • Hypomagnesemia
  • Hypermagnesemia
• Disorders of selenium metabolism
  • Selenium deficiency
  • Selenium excess
• Disorders of zinc metabolism
  • Zinc deficiency: skin rash, poor wound healing
  • Zinc excess: nausea, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain

Review Date: 06/17/2008
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)