HOW ARE NUTRIENTS OR NUTRIENTS CLASSIFIED? - NUTRITION - 2025

The nutrients or nutrients classified into three groups according to their importance, quantity and function in the body, essential and non - essential macro and micro nutrients, and energy, plastics and regulators.

Nutrients are chemical components that cells obtain through the different foods that are consumed daily. They are necessary for cells to fulfill their essential functions and for the body to nourish, grow and survive.

Ranking according to importance

According to the importance they have during metabolic processes for the full functioning of the body, they are classified into two groups:

1- Essential nutrients

It is necessary to consume these nutrients for the proper functioning of the body, because it cannot synthesize them.

This group includes some vitamins (A, D, E, K, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, B12, B6), other minerals (iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, iodine, fluorine, sodium, potassium), fatty acids, amino acids, oxygen and water, all essential for life.

2- Non-essential nutrients

They are substances that the body synthesizes in adequate amounts but that are not essential for its growth, maintenance and development.

Among these nutrients are antioxidants and phytochemicals, which are present in some vegetables. Although its permanent consumption is not necessary, they serve to improve some functions in the body.

Sorting according to quantity

By the amount required by organisms and plants, they are classified into:

1- Macronutrients

They are those nutrients responsible for supplying the body with the greatest amount of energy necessary to carry out metabolic processes.

This group includes carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids or fats. Also alcohols and organic acids.

2- Micronutrients

In this group are some minerals and vitamins. Micronutrients are needed in the body in small amounts (less than milligrams).

They act as regulatory agents of metabolism in energy processes, but not as substrates.

Classification according to function

Although a nutrient can perform several functions in the body, for educational purposes they can be classified into:

1- Energetic

These help the metabolism to obtain energy so that it can perform its vital functions. In this group are fats and carbohydrates (carbohydrates).

In the case of proteins, even though they belong to the group of plastics, they can also be energetic if they are consumed in greater quantities than they are needed.

2- Plastics

Plastics are also called structural because they are part of the body's structure and allow its growth since they act in the formation of tissues.

In this group are certain lipids (cholesterol), proteins, carbohydrates and some mineral substances such as phosphorus and calcium, among others.

3- Regulators

These are in charge of controlling the chemical reactions produced by the body's metabolism.

Regulatory nutrients are also called energy and builders, and are found in vitamins and some minerals such as potassium and sodium, potassium.

References

1. 5 Classifications of Nutrients. Retrieved October 11 from healthyeating.sfgate.com
2. Harper, A. (1999). "Defining the Essentiality of Nutrients." In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th edition, ed. ME Shills, et al. Baltimore.
3. Brody T: Nutritional Biochemistry. Ed. Academic Press, San Diego, 1999. Recovered from alimentacionynutricion.org
4. 5 Classifications of Nutrients. Consulted from livestrong.com/
5. Nutrients classification. Consulted of es.slideshare.net
6. Classification of nutrients. Consulted of clsifdenutrim.blogspot.com
7. Nutrients. Consulted of energiayconsumo16in.blogspot.com
8. Macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Consulted from fao.org
9. Regulatory foods. Consulted of Alimentossaludables.info