Macronutrient

In ecologyand biochemistry, macronutrients are essential chemical elementsneeded by all life in large quantities for it to function normally. They include the big six: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Occasionally, Macromineralsare in the definition, but are usually excluded in scientific discussion.

The other macronutrients are hydrogen, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganeseiron, copper, zincand molybdenum

In nutrition, macronutrients are those nutrients that together provide the vast majority of metabolic energy to an organism. The three main macronutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Others include alcoholand organic acids. They are distinguished from micronutrientssuch as vitamins and minerals necessary in small amounts to maintain health but not to provide energy.

See also

• Micronutrient

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macronutrient Wikipedia article Macronutrient.