Minerals, Water, and Dietary Supplements

Learn how minerals and water support body functions and how to evaluate dietary supplement information. Drawing on content from Jamie Pope and Steven Nizielski, authors of Scientific American Nutrition for a Changing World, published by Macmillan Learning, this course connects nutrient sources and absorption with bone health, fluid balance, and informed nutrition decisions. You will examine major minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and chloride, and learn how absorption and bioavailability influence their use. You will also study water balance and the role of antidiuretic hormone. You will then investigate trace minerals such as iodine, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, and fluoride, including their sources and functions. Supplement topics introduce regulation, labeling, structure/function claims, potential harms, and functional foods, giving you a framework for interpreting product information. Through readings and practice activities, you will connect mineral and hydration concepts with nutrition needs and evaluate supplement-related claims. The course includes approximately eight and a half hours of learning material. This course is part of the Foundations of Nutrition Science & the Dietary Guidelines Specialization and can also be taken independently.