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Obesity:
Body weight more than 20% above a desirable standard do to excessive
accumulation of fat.
Oblique:
A plane that passes through the body or an organ at an angle between the
transverse plane an either the midsagittal, parasagittal, or frontal plane.
Observational study: A study in which no experimental intervention or
treatment is applied. Participants are simply observed over time.
One-carbon unit: A biochemical term for functional groups containing
only one carbon in addition to other atoms. One-carbon units transferred by
folate coenzymes include methyl (-CH3), methylene (-CH2-),
fomyl (-CH=O), formimino (-CH=NH), and methenyl (-CH=). Many biosynthetic
reactions involve the addition of a one-carbon unit to a precursor molecule.
Optimum
health: In addition to freedom from disease, the ability of an
individual to function physically and mentally at his or her best.
Organic:
Refers to carbon-containing compounds, generally synthesized by living
organisms.
Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint condition that is characterized by
the breakdown of articular cartilage (cartilage within the joint). Symptoms
of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness in the affected joint(s),
particularly after activity.
Osteoblasts: Cells associated with bone that are responsible for the new
formation of bone in the bone remodeling process.
Osteoclasts: Cells associated with bone that are responsible for the
breakdown or resorption of bone. Bone remodeling is a continuous process of
resorption and formation.
Osteomalacia: A disease of adults that is characterized by softening of
the bones due to loss of bone mineral. Osteomalacia is characteristic of
vitamin D deficiency in adults, while children with vitamin D deficiency
suffer from rickets.
Osteoporosis: A condition of increased bone fragility and susceptibility
to bone fracture due to a loss of bone mineral density (BMD)
Oxidation:
A chemical reaction that removes electrons from an atom or molecule.
Oxidative
stress:
An organism is said to experience oxidative stress when the
effects of prooxidants (e.g. free radicals, reactive oxygen and reactive
nitrogen species) exceed the ability of antioxidant systems to neutralize
them.
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