macronutrients

(noun)

any element or nutrient required in large amounts.

Related Terms

Examples of macronutrients in the following topics:

  • Essential Nutrients for Plants

    • The essential elements can be divided into macronutrients and micronutrients .
    • Nutrients that plants require in larger amounts are called macronutrients.
    • Hydrogen and oxygen are macronutrients that are part of many organic compounds and also form water.
    • Magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) are also important macronutrients.
    • In addition to macronutrients, organisms require various elements in small amounts.

  • Energy and Nutrient Requirements for Prokaryotes

    • Prokaryotes need a source of energy, a source of carbon, macronutrients, and micronutrients to survive.
    • Just a handful of elements are considered macronutrients: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
    • Why are these macronutrients needed in large amounts?
    • Other important macronutrients are potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sodium (Na).
    • In addition to these macronutrients, prokaryotes require various metallic elements in small amounts.

  • Nutrition and Health

    • The body gets energy from macronutrients—the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in the food we eat.
    • Along with its need for energy from macronutrients, the body requires a variety of micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, to support tissue growth, enzyme structure, and cellular functions.
    • The Basics of Nutrition: Macronutrients, Amino and Fatty Acids, and Micronutrients
    • Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

  • Limitation of Microbial Growth by Nutrient Supply

    • Macronutrients are necessary in large amounts; micronutrients tend to be needed in smaller amounts and are often trace elements.

  • Mechanisms of Chemical Digestion

    • Chemical digestion is the process of breakdown of large macronutrients into smaller molecules by enzyme-mediated hydrolysis.

  • The Role of Prokaryotes in Ecosystems

    • Carbon is one of the most important macronutrients.
    • As a macronutrient in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds to ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, and nitrogen gas by myriad processes, many of which are carried out solely by prokaryotes; they are key to the nitrogen cycle .

  • Fluids and Aging

    • The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently included water as a macronutrient in its dietary reference values for the first time.

  • Nitrogen Fixation: Root and Bacteria Interactions

    • Nitrogen is an important macronutrient because it is part of nucleic acids and proteins.

  • Life Functions

    • These include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur—the elemental macronutrients for all organisms.

  • The Endocrine System and Hunger

    • Studies have shown that the brain can sense differences between macronutrients through these vagal nerve fibers.