Nutrient

Template:Pp-pc1 Template:Short description Template:Redirect A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons. Some nutrients can be metabolically converted into smaller molecules in the process of releasing energy such as for carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and fermentation products (ethanol or vinegar) leading to end-products of water and carbon dioxide. All organisms require water. Essential nutrients for animals are the energy sources, some of the amino acids that are combined to create proteins, a subset of fatty acids, vitamins and certain minerals. Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves. Fungi live on dead or living organic matter and meet nutrient needs from their host.

Different types of organisms have different essential nutrients. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is essential to humans and some animal species but most other animals and many plants are able to synthesize it. Nutrients may be organic or inorganic: organic compounds include most compounds containing carbon, while all other chemicals are inorganic. Inorganic nutrients include nutrients such as iron, selenium, and zinc, while organic nutrients include, protein, fats, sugars and vitamins.

A classification used primarily to describe nutrient needs of animals divides nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients. Consumed in relatively large amounts (grams or ounces), macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water) are primarily used to generate energy or to incorporate into tissues for growth and repair. Micronutrients are needed in smaller amounts (milligrams or micrograms); they have subtle biochemical and physiological roles in cellular processes, like vascular functions or nerve conduction. Inadequate amounts of essential nutrients or diseases that interfere with absorption, result in a deficiency state that compromises growth, survival and reproduction. Consumer advisories for dietary nutrient intakes such as the United States Dietary Reference Intake, are based on the amount required to prevent deficiency and provide macronutrient and micronutrient guides for both lower and upper limits of intake. In many countries, regulations require that food product labels display information about the amount of any macronutrients and micronutrients present in the food in significant quantities. Nutrients in larger quantities than the body needs may have harmful effects.<ref name="Ensminger1994">Template:Cite book</ref> Edible plants also contain thousands of compounds generally called phytochemicals which have unknown effects on disease or health including a diverse class with non-nutrient status called polyphenols which remain poorly understood as of 2024.

Types

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Macronutrients

Macronutrients are defined in several ways.<ref name="Kern2005">Template:Cite book</ref>

• The chemical elements humans consume in the largest quantities are carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulphur, summarized as CHNOPS.
• The chemical compounds that humans consume in the largest quantities and provide bulk energy are classified as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Water must be also consumed in large quantities but does not provide caloric value.
• Calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride ions, along with phosphorus and sulfur, are listed with macronutrients because they are required in large quantities compared to micronutrients, i.e., vitamins and other minerals, the latter often described as trace or ultratrace minerals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Macronutrients provide energy:

• Carbohydrates are compounds made up of types of sugar. Carbohydrates are classified according to their number of sugar units: monosaccharides (such as glucose and fructose), disaccharides (such as sucrose and lactose), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides (such as starch, glycogen, and cellulose).
• Proteins are organic compounds that consist of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. Since the body cannot manufacture some of the amino acids (termed essential amino acids), the diet must supply them. Through digestion, proteins are broken down by proteases back into free amino acids.
• Fats consist of a glycerin molecule with three fatty acids attached. Fatty acid molecules contain a -COOH group attached to unbranched hydrocarbon chains connected by single bonds alone (saturated fatty acids) or by both double and single bonds (unsaturated fatty acids). Fats are needed for construction and maintenance of cell membranes, to maintain a stable body temperature, and to sustain the health of skin and hair. Because the body does not manufacture certain fatty acids (termed essential fatty acids), they must be obtained through one's diet.
• Ethanol is not an essential nutrient, but it does provide calories. The United States Department of Agriculture uses a figure of Template:Convert per gram of alcohol (Template:Convert per ml) for calculating food energy.<ref name=USDA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> For distilled spirits, a standard serving in the U.S. is Template:Cvt, which at 40% ethanol (80 proof) would be 14 grams and 98 calories.

Biomolecule	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Protein	4
Carbohydrate	4
Ethanol	7<ref name=USDA/>
Fat	9

Micronutrients

Micronutrients are essential dietary elements required in varying quantities throughout life to serve metabolic and physiological functions.<ref name="natrev">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="tucker">Template:Cite journal</ref>

• Dietary minerals, such as potassium, sodium, and iron, are elements native to Earth, and cannot be synthesized. They are required in the diet in microgram or milligram amounts. As plants obtain minerals from the soil, dietary minerals derive directly from plants consumed or indirectly from edible animal sources.<ref name="lpimin">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Vitamins are organic compounds required in microgram or milligram amounts.<ref name="lpivit">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The importance of each dietary vitamin was first established when it was determined that a disease would develop if that vitamin was absent from the diet.<ref name=lpivit/>

Essentiality

Essential nutrients

Template:Anchor An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal physiological function that cannot be synthesized in the body – either at all or in sufficient quantities – and thus must be obtained from a dietary source.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="VaughanGeissler2009">Template:Cite book</ref> Apart from water, which is universally required for the maintenance of homeostasis in mammals,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> essential nutrients are indispensable for various cellular metabolic processes and for the maintenance and function of tissues and organs.<ref name="AJCN">Template:Cite journal</ref> The nutrients considered essential for humans comprise nine amino acids, two fatty acids, thirteen vitamins, fifteen minerals and choline.<ref name="AJCN" /> In addition, there are several molecules that are considered conditionally essential nutrients since they are indispensable in certain developmental and pathological states.<ref name="AJCN" /><ref name="Carver">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Amino acids

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} An essential amino acid is an amino acid that is required by an organism but cannot be synthesized de novo by it, and therefore must be supplied in its diet. Out of the twenty standard protein-producing amino acids, nine cannot be endogenously synthesized by humans: phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="DRI">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Fatty acids

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest because the body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Only two fatty acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Vitamins and vitamers

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Vitamins occur in a variety of related forms known as vitamers. The vitamers of a given vitamin perform the functions of that vitamin and prevent symptoms of deficiency of that vitamin. Vitamins are those essential organic molecules that are not classified as amino acids or fatty acids. They commonly function as enzymatic cofactors, metabolic regulators or antioxidants. Humans require thirteen vitamins in their diet, most of which are actually groups of related molecules (e.g. vitamin E includes tocopherols and tocotrienols):<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> vitamins A, C, D, E, K, thiamine (B₁), riboflavin (B₂), niacin (B₃), pantothenic acid (B₅), pyridoxine (B₆), biotin (B₇), folate (B₉), and cobalamin (B₁₂). The requirement for vitamin D is conditional, as people who get sufficient exposure to ultraviolet light, either from the sun or an artificial source, synthesize vitamin D in the skin.<ref name="lpi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Minerals

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Minerals are the exogenous chemical elements indispensable for life. Although the four elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON) are essential for life, they are so plentiful in food and drink that these are not considered nutrients and there are no recommended intakes for these as minerals. The need for nitrogen is addressed by requirements set for protein, which is composed of nitrogen-containing amino acids. Sulfur is essential, but again does not have a recommended intake. Instead, recommended intakes are identified for the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine.

The essential nutrient trace elements for humans, listed in order of recommended dietary allowance (expressed as a mass), are potassium, chloride, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, chromium, molybdenum, and selenium. Additionally, cobalt is a component of vitamin B₁₂ which is essential. There are other minerals which are essential for some plants and animals, but may or may not be essential for humans, such as boron and silicon.

Choline

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Choline is an essential nutrient.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The cholines are a family of water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds.<ref name="Choline HMDB">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "choline". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Dec. 2013, https://www.britannica.com/science/choline. Accessed 17 February 2022.</ref> Choline is the parent compound of the cholines class, consisting of ethanolamine having three methyl substituents attached to the amino function.<ref>National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 305, Choline. Retrieved February 17, 2022 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Choline.</ref> Healthy humans fed artificially composed diets that are deficient in choline develop fatty liver, liver damage, and muscle damage. Choline was not initially classified as essential because the human body can produce choline in small amounts through phosphatidylcholine metabolism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Conditionally essential

Conditionally essential nutrients are certain organic molecules that can normally be synthesized by an organism, but under certain conditions in insufficient quantities. In humans, such conditions include premature birth, limited nutrient intake, rapid growth, and certain disease states.<ref name="Carver" /> Inositol, taurine, arginine, glutamine and nucleotides are classified as conditionally essential and are particularly important in neonatal diet and metabolism.<ref name="Carver" />

Non-essential

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Non-essential nutrients are substances within foods that can have a significant impact on health. Dietary fiber is not absorbed in the human digestive tract.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Soluble fiber is metabolized to butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids by bacteria residing in the large intestine.<ref name="Butyrate synthesis pathways">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="lupton">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Prebiotic digestion">Template:Cite journal</ref> Soluble fiber is marketed as serving a prebiotic function with claims for promoting "healthy" intestinal bacteria.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Non-nutrients

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH) is not an essential nutrient, but it does supply approximately Template:Convert of food energy per gram.<ref name=Lieber>Template:Cite journal</ref> For spirits (vodka, gin, rum, etc.) a standard serving in the United States is Template:Convert, which at 40%Template:Nbspethanol (80Template:Nbspproof) would be 14 grams and Template:Convert. At 50%Template:Nbspalcohol, 17.5 g and Template:Convert. Wine and beer contain a similar amount of ethanol in servings of Template:Convert, respectively, but these beverages also contribute to food energy intake from components other than ethanol. A Template:Convert serving of wine contains Template:Convert. A Template:Convert serving of beer contains Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, based on NHANES 2013–2014 surveys, women ages 20 and up consume on average 6.8Template:Nbspgrams of alcohol per day and men consume on average 15.5 grams per day.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ignoring the non-alcohol contribution of those beverages, the average ethanol contributions to daily food energy intake are Template:Convert, respectively. Alcoholic beverages are considered empty calorie foods because, while providing energy, they contribute no essential nutrients.<ref name=Lieber/>

By definition, phytochemicals include all nutritional and non-nutritional components of edible plants.<ref name="lpi1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Included as nutritional constituents are provitamin A carotenoids,<ref name="lpi2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> whereas those without nutrient status are diverse polyphenols, flavonoids, resveratrol, and lignans that are present in numerous plant foods.<ref name="lpi3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some phytochemical compounds are under preliminary research for their potential effects on human diseases and health.<ref name="lpi1" /><ref name="lpi2" /><ref name=lpi3/> However, the qualification for nutrient status of compounds with poorly defined properties in vivo is that they must first be defined with a Dietary Reference Intake level to enable accurate food labeling,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a condition not established for most phytochemicals that are claimed to provide antioxidant benefits.<ref name="nutra">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Deficiencies and toxicity

See Vitamin, Mineral (nutrient), Protein (nutrient)

An inadequate amount of a nutrient is a deficiency. Deficiencies can be due to several causes, including an inadequacy in nutrient intake, called a dietary deficiency, or any of several conditions that interfere with the utilization of a nutrient within an organism.<ref name="Ensminger1994"/> Some of the conditions that can interfere with nutrient utilization include problems with nutrient absorption, substances that cause a greater-than-normal need for a nutrient, conditions that cause nutrient destruction, and conditions that cause greater nutrient excretion.<ref name="Ensminger1994"/> Nutrient toxicity occurs when excess consumption of a nutrient does harm to an organism.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In the United States and Canada, recommended dietary intake levels of essential nutrients are based on the minimum level that "will maintain a defined level of nutriture in an individual", a definition somewhat different from that used by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of a "basal requirement to indicate the level of intake needed to prevent pathologically relevant and clinically detectable signs of a dietary inadequacy".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In setting human nutrient guidelines, government organizations do not necessarily agree on amounts needed to avoid deficiency or maximum amounts to avoid the risk of toxicity.<ref name=DRITable>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=EFSA>Template:Citation</ref><ref name=JapanDRI>Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2010) National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Japan</ref> For example, for vitamin C, recommended intakes range from 40 mg/day in India<ref name="NIN">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to 155 mg/day for the European Union.<ref name=EFSA-Recommended>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The table below shows U.S. Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins and minerals, PRIs for the European Union (same concept as RDAs), followed by what three government organizations deem to be the safe upper intake. RDAs are set higher than EARs to cover people with higher-than-average needs. Adequate Intakes (AIs) are set when there is insufficient information to establish EARs and RDAs. Countries establish tolerable upper intake levels, also referred to as upper limits (ULs), based on amounts that cause adverse effects. Governments are slow to revise information of this nature. For the U.S. values, except calcium and vitamin D, all data date from 1997 to 2004.<ref name="DRI" />

Nutrient	U.S. EAR<ref name=DRITable />	Highest U.S. RDA or AI<ref name=DRITable />	Highest EU PRI or AI<ref name=EFSA-Recommended />	Upper limit			Unit
				U.S.<ref name=DRITable />	EU <ref name=EFSA />	Japan<ref name=JapanDRI />
Vitamin A	625	900	1300	3000	3000	2700	μg
Vitamin C	75	90	155	2000	ND	ND	mg
Vitamin D	10	15	15	100	100	100	μg
Vitamin K	NE	120	70	ND	ND	ND	μg
α-tocopherol (Vit E)	12	15	13	1000	300	650–900	mg
Thiamin (Vit B1)	1.0	1.2	0.1 mg/MJ	ND	ND	ND	mg
Riboflavin (Vit B2)	1.1	1.3	2.0	ND	ND	ND	mg
Niacin* (Vit B3)	12	16	1.6 mg/MJ	35	10	60-85	mg
Pantothenic acid (Vit B5)	NE	5	7	ND	ND	ND	mg
Vitamin B6	1.1	1.3	1.8	100	25	40-60	mg
Biotin (Vit B7)	NE	30	45	ND	ND	ND	μg
Folate (Vit B9)	320	400	600	1000	1000	900-1000	μg
Cobalamin (Vit B12)	2.0	2.4	5.0	ND	ND	ND	μg
Choline	NE	550	520	3500	ND	ND	mg
Calcium	800	1000	1000	2500	2500	2500	mg
Chloride	NE	2300	NE	3600	ND	ND	mg
Chromium	NE	35	NE	ND	ND	ND	μg
Copper	700	900	1600	10000	5000	10000	μg
Fluoride	NE	4	3.4	10	7	____	mg
Iodine	95	150	200	1100	600	3000	μg
Iron	6	18 (females) 8 (males)	16 (females) 11 (males)	45	ND	40-45	mg
Magnesium*	350	420	350	350	250	350	mg
Manganese	NE	2.3	3.0	11	ND	11	mg
Molybdenum	34	45	65	2000	600	450-550	μg
Phosphorus	580	700	640	4000	ND	3000	mg
Potassium	NE	4700	4000	ND	ND	2700-3000	mg
Selenium	45	55	70	400	300	330-460	μg
Sodium	NE	1500	NE	2300	ND	3000-3600	mg
Zinc	9.4	11	16.3	40	25	35-45	mg

* The daily recommended amounts of niacin and magnesium are higher than the tolerable upper limit because, for both nutrients, the ULs identify the amounts that will not increase the risk of adverse effects when the nutrients are consumed as a serving of a dietary supplement. Magnesium supplementation above the UL may cause diarrhea. Supplementation with niacin above the UL may cause flushing of the face and a sensation of body warmth. Each country or regional regulatory agency decides on a safety margin below when symptoms occur so that the ULs may differ based on the source.<ref name=DRITable /><ref name=EFSA />

EAR U.S. Estimated Average Requirements.

RDA U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances; higher for adults than children and may be even higher for pregnant or lactating women.

AI U.S. Adequate Intake; AIs are established when there is insufficient information to set EARs and RDAs.

PRI Population Reference Intake is the European Union equivalent of RDA; it is higher for adults than for children and maybe even higher for pregnant or lactating women. For Thiamin and Niacin, the PRIs are expressed as amounts per megajoule (239 kilocalories) of food energy consumed.

Upper Limit Tolerable upper intake levels.

ND ULs have not been determined.

NE EARs, PRIs, or AIs have not yet been established or will not be (EU does not consider chromium an essential nutrient).

Plant

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Plants absorb carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from air and soil as carbon dioxide and water.<ref name="Jones1998">Template:Cite book</ref> Other nutrients are absorbed from soil (exceptions include some parasitic or carnivorous plants). Counting these, there are 17 important nutrients for plants:<ref name="BarkerPilbeam2007">Template:Cite book</ref> these are macronutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), carbon (C), oxygen(O) and hydrogen (H), and the micronutrients; iron (Fe), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and nickel (Ni). In addition to carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur are also needed in relatively large quantities. Together, these six are the elemental macronutrients for all organisms.<ref name=wsj20101203> New Link in Chain of Life, Wall Street Journal, 2010-12-03, accessed 5 December 2010. "Until now, however, they were all thought to share the same biochemistry, based on the Big Six, to build proteins, fats, and DNA."</ref> They are sourced from inorganic matter (for example, carbon dioxide, water, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates, and diatomic molecules of nitrogen and, especially, oxygen) and organic compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins.

External links

• USDA. Dietary Reference Intakes