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Absorption:
The taking up of liquids by solids or of gases by solids; intake of fluid or
other substances by cells of the skin or mucous membranes; the passage of
digested foods from the gastrointestinal tract into blood or lymph.
Acetylation:
the addition of an acetyl group (-COCH3) group to a molecule.
Acetylcholine:
A neurotransmitter liberated by peripheral nervous system neurons and some
central nervous system neurons. It is excitatory at neuromuscular junctions but
inhibitory at some other synapses.
Acidic:
having a pH of less than 7.
Acute:
having a rapid onset, short and relatively severe course; not chronic.
Adjunct:
assisting in the prevention, amelioration, or cure of a disease.
Adrenal
glands: a pair of small glands, located above the kidneys, consisting of an
outer cortex and inner medulla. The adrenal cortex secretes cortisone-related
hormones and the adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine (adrenaline) and
norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
AI:
adequate intake. A recommended intake value based on observed or experimentally
determined approximations or estimates of nutrient intake by a group of healthy
people that are assumed to be adequate, The AI is used when the RDA cannot be
determined.
AIDS:
acquired immune deficiency syndrome. AIDS is caused by the HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus) virus, which attacks the immune system, leaving the
infected individual vulnerable to opportunistic infection.
Alkaline:
basic;
having a pH of more than 7.
Allele:
One of a set
of alternative forms of a gene. Diploid cells possess two homologous chromosomes
(one derived from each parent) and therefore two copies of each gene. In a
diploid cell, a gene will have two alleles, each occupying the same position on
homologous chromosomes.
Alpha Lipoic Acid:
Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant and an enhancer of other antioxidants.
Normal metabolism and other processes produce oxidative or free radical
byproducts that damage all living tissues in the body. The antioxidant
properties of alpha-lipoic acid help to protect these tissues from damage
caused by aging, sugar metabolism and certain pollutants in our environment
and the foods we eat. In, particular, alpha-lipoic acid can reduce damage
oxidative damage to blood vessels, brain, peripheral nerves, liver, skin and
bone. Other beneficial effects have been demonstrated that are not yet well
understood. Alpha-lipoic acid is effectively used to treat neuropathy,
muscle fatigue, diabetic insulin resistance, vitamin E deficiency, vascular
dysfunction, radiation injury, mushroom poisoning, and alcoholic hepatitis.
It inhibits cataract formation and also frequently used as an anti-aging
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Alzheimer's
disease:
a
neurological condition characterized by the degeneration of brain cells.
Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, and physical decline. Alzheimer's
disease usually occurs later in life and worsens over time.
Amino acids:
organic
(carbon-containing) molecules that serve as the building blocks of proteins.
Anaerobic:
refers to the
absence of oxygen or the absence of a need for oxygen.
Analog:
a chemical
compound that is structurally similar to another but differs slightly in
composition (e.g., the replacement of one functional group by another).
Anaphylaxis:
a
rapidly developing and severe systemic allergic reaction. Symptoms may include
swelling of the tongue, throat, and trachea, which can result in difficulty
breathing, shock, and loss of consciousness. If not treated rapidly, anaphylaxis
can be fatal.
Anemia:
the condition
of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the
blood, resulting in diminished oxygen transport. Anemia has many cause,
including: iron, vitamin B-12, or folate deficiency, bleeding, abnormal
hemoglobin formation (e.g., sickle cell anemia), rupture of red blood cells
(hemolytic anemia), and bone marrow diseases.
Anencephaly:
a birth
defect, known as a neural tube defect, resulting from failure of the upper end
of the neural tube to close during embryonic development. Anencephaly is a
devastating and sometimes fatal birth defect resulting in the absence of most or
all of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain.
Angina
pectoris:
pain
generally experienced in the chest, but sometimes radiating to the arms or jaw,
due to a lack of oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Angiography
(coronary):
a diagnostic
test used to identify the exact location and severity of coronary artery
disease. During angiography a small tube or catheter is inserted into an artery
and guided with the assistance of a fluoroscope (x-ray) to the opening of the
coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. A dye, visible on x-rays, is
then injected into each coronary artery to reveal the extent and severity of
blockages. Images produced by angiography are known as angiograms.
Anion:
a negatively
charged ion.
Antagonist:
a substance
that counteracts the cellular effects of a natural compound, for example, a
nutrient or a hormone.
Antibodies:
also known as
immunoglobulins (Ig), antibodies are specialized proteins produced by white
blood cells that circulate in the blood recognizing and binding to foreign
proteins, microorganisms or toxins in order to neutralize them. They are a
critical part of the immune response.
Anticoagulant:
a class of
compounds that inhibit the formation of blood clots.
Anticonvulsant:
a class of
medication used to prevent seizures, commonly used in individuals with seizure
disorders or epilepsy.
Antigen:
a substance
that is capable of causing an immune response.
Antihistamine:
a chemical
that blocks the affect of histamine in a susceptible tissues. Histamine is
released by immune cells during an allergic reaction and also during infection
with viruses which cause the common cold. The interaction of histamine with the
mucus membranes of the eyes and nose results in "watery eyes" and the "runny
nose" often accompanying allergies and colds. Antihistamines can alleviate such
symptoms.
Antioxidant:
any substance
that prevents or reduces damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) or
reactive nitrogen species (RNS). ROS and RNS are highly reactive chemicals that
attack other molecules and modify their chemical structure. Antioxidants are
commonly added to foods to prevent or delay their deterioration due to exposure
to air.
Antiresorptive agents:
medications
or hormones that inhibit bone resorption.
Apoptosis:
gene-directed
cell death or programmed cell death that occurs when age, condition, or state of
cell health dictates. Cells that die by apoptosis do not usually elicit the
inflammatory responses that are associated with necrosis. Cancer cells are not
able to undergo apoptosis.
Arginine: L-Arginine is
crystalline, free-form amino acid. It is a important factor in muscle metabolism
and works to transport, store and excrete nitrogen and is involved in DNA
synthesis. It is also a precursor of guanidophosphate, phosphoarginine, and
creatine, three high-energy compounds found in muscles.
Arrhythmia:
an abnormal
heart rhythm. The heart rhythm may be too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia)
or irregular. Some arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, may lead to
cardiac arrest if not treated promptly.
Asthma:
a respiratory
condition characterized by difficulty breathing and reversible narrowing of the
airways, known as bronchospasm.
Ataxia:
a lack of
coordination or unsteadiness usually related to a disturbance in the cerebellum,
a part of the brain that regulates coordination and equilibrium.
Atherosclerosis:
also known as
arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis results from the accumulation of
cholesterol-laden plaque in artery walls. Plaque accumulation causes a
narrowing and a loss of elasticity of the arteries, sometimes referred to as
hardening of the arteries.
ATP:
adenosine
triphosphate. An important compound for the storage of energy in cells, as well
as the synthesis (formation) of nucleic acids.
Atrophic
gastritis:
a chronic
inflammation of the lining of the stomach, which ultimately results in the loss
of glands in the stomach (atrophy) and decreased stomach acid production.
Atrophy:
decrease in
size or wasting away of a body part or tissue.
Autoimmune
disease:
Autoimmune
diseases occur when the body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune
system. The immune system is a complex organization of cells and antibodies
designed normally to destroy pathogens, particularly viruses and bacteria that
cause infections. Individuals with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their
blood which target their own body tissues.
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