Milk Minerals, Trace Elements, and Macroelements

Milk and dairy products contain several essential minerals at different concentrations. They contribute to multiple vital functions in human nutrition and health. This chapter describes the concentrations, distributions, associations and functions of the six major macroelements (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Cl) and four trace elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, Se) in cow milk and its dairy products, while the remaining elements are discussed more briefly. For each element special attention is also paid to their contributions to human nutrition and health. Mineral contents in milk and dairy products of other species (sheep, goat, buffalo, yak, camel and mare) and their functions are also discussed.