Minerals in Milk

Calcium

Milk is a source of calcium, which is essential for the healthy growth and maintenance of teeth and bones and is a vital function in blood clotting and muscle contraction.

A 200ml glass of semi-skimmed milk can provide a 6-year-old child with over half (55%) of his or her calcium requirement and can provide an adult (19-64years) with over a third (35%) of his or her daily calcium requirement.

Phosphorus

The main sources of phosphorus in the UK diet come from milk and milk products. It is the second most abundant mineral in the body and plays a vital role in calcium and protein metabolism.

Phosphorus is also essential for healthy bones and teeth as well as cell membrane structure, tissue growth and regulation of pH levels in the body.

A glass/200ml of semi skimmed milk will provide a child of 6 years with 55% of their daily requirement for phosphorus and an adult (19-50 years) with 36%.

Iodine

Milk is a source of iodine in the UK diet. Iodine forms part of the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These hormones are produced in the thyroid, a gland in the neck and regulate the body’s rate of metabolism (how quickly the body burns energy and the rate of growth).

1 glass (200ml) of semi-skimmed milk will provide a child of 6 years with 96% of their daily requirement for iodine and an adult (19-50 years) with 44%. (These figures are for winter milk, which may contain slightly higher levels of iodine than summer milk.)

Magnesium

Magnesium is abundant in bone and in all cells in the body. Magnesium is essential for skeletal development, protein synthesis, muscle contraction and nerve function.

1 glass/ 200 ml of semi skimmed milk will provide a child of 6 years with 19% of their daily requirement for magnesium and an adult (19-50 years) with 7.5%.

Zinc

Zinc is a constituent of many enzymes in the body; its role is to fight infections, growth development, for sexual development, wound healing and for our sense of taste.

1 glass/ 200 ml of semi skimmed milk will provide a child of 6 years with 12.3% of their daily requirement for zinc and an adult (19-50 years) with 11%.

Potassium

Potassium is mainly present in the fluid of the cells in the body and is important for fluid balance, muscle contraction, nerve conduction as well as for the correct functioning of the heart.

1 glass/ 200 ml of semi skimmed milk will provide a child of 6 years with 29% of their daily requirement for potassium and an adult (19-50 years) with 9%.

Other minerals

Sodium, selenium and iron are also found in milk in low levels.