What does a mineral panel consist of?

Mineral Panel Components

A mineral panel consists of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride measurements. 1

Core Components of a Mineral Panel

• Calcium: Measures total calcium levels in the blood, reflecting bone mineralization and cellular activity. Calcium is essential for heart and muscle contractions, enzymatic systems, and skeletal development 2, 3

• Phosphorus: Measures phosphate levels which are critical for bone formation, energy metabolism, and regulation of acid-base balance 2

• Magnesium: Essential for intestinal absorption, enzymatic reactions, and muscle function. Approximately 65% of body magnesium is found in the skeleton 4

• Sodium: Critical for fluid balance and nerve transmission. Typically measured to assess hydration status rather than absolute sodium intake 4, 2

• Potassium: Essential for heart and muscle contractions, nerve transmission, and cellular function 2, 3

• Chloride: Often paired with sodium measurements to assess electrolyte and acid-base balance 4

Clinical Significance and Interpretation

• Calcium and phosphorus levels should be interpreted together as they are both major components of bone mineral (hydroxyapatite) with a molar Ca:P ratio of 1.67 in bone mineral and 1.3 in the whole body 4

• Serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, serum iron, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) are typically part of an iron panel, not a standard mineral panel, but may be ordered alongside minerals when assessing nutritional status 1

• Abnormal mineral levels can indicate various conditions:

  • Hypercalcemia may suggest hyperparathyroidism, malignancy, or vitamin D toxicity 4
  • Hypocalcemia may indicate vitamin D deficiency, hypoparathyroidism, or chronic kidney disease 4
  • Hyperphosphatemia is common in kidney disease 4
  • Hypomagnesemia can affect calcium metabolism and cause muscle weakness 4

Special Considerations

• Mineral requirements vary by age, with higher needs during periods of growth (infancy, childhood, adolescence) 4

• In patients receiving parenteral nutrition, mineral panels are essential for monitoring and adjusting supplementation 4

• For patients with chronic kidney disease, mineral metabolism is often disturbed, requiring more frequent monitoring of calcium and phosphorus 1

• Athletes may have altered mineral requirements due to increased losses through sweat and higher metabolic demands 3

Common Pitfalls in Interpretation

• Serum calcium levels should be interpreted in the context of albumin levels, as approximately 40% of calcium is bound to albumin 1

• Hemolysis of blood samples can falsely elevate potassium levels 4

• Timing of sample collection can affect results, particularly for phosphorus which has diurnal variation 4

• Medications including diuretics, antacids, and certain antibiotics can significantly alter mineral levels 4