What mineral's regulation is affected by the action of insulin?

The regulation of glucose is closely associated with the action of insulin because insulin plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism. When glucose levels rise in the bloodstream, such as after a meal, the pancreas secretes insulin. This hormone facilitates the uptake of glucose by various tissues, particularly muscle and adipose tissue, allowing these cells to utilize glucose for energy or store it as glycogen.

Insulin also influences glucose production in the liver, inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis to lower blood glucose levels effectively. In this way, insulin acts as a regulatory factor, ensuring that blood glucose levels remain within a normal range, which is essential for overall metabolic homeostasis.

The other options, while important in the body, do not have a direct regulatory relationship with insulin in the same way that glucose does. Sodium and calcium play vital roles in numerous physiological functions, but their regulation is more influenced by other hormones and factors, such as aldosterone for sodium and parathyroid hormone for calcium. Potassium, while also important, is primarily managed through renal function and cellular mechanisms.