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Ammonia
A toxic waste product of protein breakdown. Ammonia
is converted to urea by the liver, and the urea is then excreted in the
urine. If nutrients such as magnesium, needed for the conversion to
urea, are deficient, and ammonia is not adequately broken down, one of
its toxic effects is interference with the Krebs cycle of energy
production (by depleting the supply of alpha-ketoglutarate). This can
result in fatigue, headache, lethargy, irritability, and allergy-like
reactions to high-protein foods.
Amylase (see Digestive enzymes)
Anaemia (Anemia)
A condition in which the oxygen-carrying capacity
of the blood is reduced. It may be caused by a deficiency of one or more
of the nutrients required for red blood cell formation, or by excessive
bleeding or the abnormal destruction of red blood cells.
Symptoms of anaemia may include fatigue, breathlessness on
exertion, dizziness and pallor.
Iron deficiency anaemia
is the most common type of anaemia. Other nutritional anaemias include
folic acid, vitamin B2, vitamin B6 (sometimes associated with taking the
contraceptive pill), vitamin B12, vitamins C and E, copper, zinc and
protein, in which deficiencies of these nutrients result in inadequate
red blood cell formation.
Macrocytic anaemia, characterized by reduced numbers of
abnormally large, malformed red blood cells, is caused by vitamin B12
and folic acid deficiencies.
Pernicious anaemia,
caused by a failure to absorb vitamin B12 (often because of a lack of
intrinsic factor)
is a type of macrocytic anaemia.
Sickle cell anaemia is
due to abnormal haemoglobin which results in distortion and fragility of
red blood cells. Both sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia
(Mediterranean anaemia) may respond to high doses of vitamin E daily.
Adapted from the Nutritional Health Bible by Linda Lazarides Download the whole database |
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