What is the role of dietary minerals in the body?

Dietary minerals play a crucial role in supporting various metabolic processes within the body. These inorganic nutrients are essential for numerous physiological functions. For instance, minerals like calcium and phosphorus are vital for bone health, while iron is necessary for oxygen transport in the blood. Minerals also act as cofactors in enzyme reactions, aiding in digestion and metabolism.

While some other options suggest important functions, they do not capture the primary role of minerals. For example, energy provision is chiefly a function of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, rather than minerals. Building proteins is primarily the role of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, rather than minerals, which do not contribute directly to protein structure. Regulating hydration is more closely related to electrolytes, which are a subset of minerals that help manage fluid balance, but the broader category of minerals encompasses a wider range of metabolic roles. Thus, supporting metabolic processes is the most comprehensive description of the function of dietary minerals.