Vitamins & Minerals in Milk

Vitamins in Milk

·       Vitamins have the following roles in the body:

Ø  metabolism co-factors

Ø  oxygen transport and

Ø  antioxidants.

·       They help the body use carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

Water Soluble Vitamins in Milk

·       Milk contains the water-soluble vitamins

Ø  thiamin (vitamin B₁)

Ø  riboflavin (vitamin B₂)

Ø  niacin (vitamin B₃)

Ø  pantothenic acid (vitamin B₅)

Ø  vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine)

Ø  vitamin B₁₂ (cobalamin)

Ø  vitamin C

Ø  folate.

·       Milk is a good source of thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin B₁₂.

·       Milk contains small amounts of niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folate and is not considered a major source of these vitamins in the diet.

Fat Soluble Vitamins in Milk

·       Milk contains the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

·       The content level of fat-soluble vitamins in dairy products depends on the fat content of the product.

·       Reduced fat (2% fat), low fat (1% fat), and skim milk must be fortified with vitamin A to be nutritionally equivalent to whole milk.

·       Fortification of all milk with vitamin D is voluntary.

·       Milk contains small amounts of vitamins E and K and is not considered a major source of these vitamins in the diet.

Minerals in Milk

·       The roles of minerals in the body are as follows:

Ø  enzyme functions

Ø  bone formation

Ø  water balance maintenance

Ø  oxygen transport

·       Milk is a good source of

Ø  calcium,

Ø  magnesium,

Ø  phosphorus,

Ø  potassium,

Ø  selenium, and

Ø  zinc.

·       Many minerals in milk are associated together in the form of salts, such as calcium phosphate.

·       In milk, approximately 67% of the calcium, 35% of the magnesium, and 44% of the phosphate are salts bound within the casein micelle and the remainder are soluble in the serum phase.

·       The fact that calcium and phosphate are associated as salts bound with the protein does not affect the nutritional availability of either calcium or phosphate.

·       Milk contains small amounts of copper, iron, manganese, and sodium and is not considered a major source of these minerals in the diet.