Question

_______ is required for carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

• A. Magnesium
• B. Calcium
• C. Sodium
• D. Potassium

Hint:

Magnesium is an important enzyme cofactor and is required for carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis, and ATP-dependent reactions.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
Minerals act as essential cofactors in many biochemical reactions. Some minerals are required for enzyme activation, energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein metabolism.

Step 1: Understanding the role of magnesium.
Magnesium is an important intracellular cation. It acts as a cofactor for many enzymes involved in metabolic reactions.

Step 2: Role in carbohydrate metabolism.
Carbohydrate metabolism includes glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and ATP-related reactions. Magnesium helps enzymes that use ATP because ATP is biologically active mostly as a magnesium-ATP complex. \[ ATP + Mg^{2+} \rightarrow MgATP^{2-} \]

Step 3: Role in protein metabolism.
Magnesium is also involved in protein synthesis because it helps in ribosomal stability and enzyme activity during translation.

Step 4: Checking other options.
Calcium is mainly important for bones, muscle contraction, and blood clotting.
Sodium is important for fluid balance and nerve impulse transmission.
Potassium is important for intracellular osmotic balance and nerve function.
But for carbohydrate and protein metabolism, magnesium is the best answer.

Step 5: Final answer.
Therefore, magnesium is required for carbohydrate and protein metabolism. \[ \boxed{\text{Magnesium}} \]