Although minerals do not get the publicity that vitamins do, they are equally as important to health as vitamins are.

The body is composed of organic and inorganic minerals, as well as trace minerals (so-called because only minute amounts are required).

Inorganic minerals must be altered from their natural state before they can penetrate the intestinal barrriers.  There are a number of ways to do this – such as coating the mineral with amino acids.  This process produces minerals chelates, making the mineral more absorbable.

Organic complexes afford more efficient absorption than the inorganic mineral salts.  Gluconates, lactates, fumerates and citrates form weak chelates.  Amino acid combinations form stronger ones.

The most popular mineral complexes employed in supplementation are prepared from natural acids.  These complexes are given names derived from the acids.  For example:

So two matters concerning essential minerals must be considered. How to get them past the intestinal barrier and what happens to them once they are in the bloodstream. Mineral transporters are the key to both.

Recognized only as nutritional supplements in the U.S., orotates and aspartates have been used with official sanction in Germany for specific uses in disease states.

~Lois Dickey, Department Manager

From “Orotates and Other Mineral Transporters”, by William H. Lee, RPh., Ph.D