Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Causes of Low Vitamin D in Blood Serum

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

The Role of Vitamin D in the Body

Vit D effects:

  • Enhances absorption of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium from the small intestine (when stimulated by PTH) by increased synthesis of calcium binding protein
  • Enhances reabsorption of calcium and phosphate in the kidneys (with the help of estrogen and PTH)
  • Enhances resorption of calcium and phosphorus from the bones (when stimulated by PTH)
  • Stimulates insulin production in the pancreas

Dietary Sources of Vitamin D

Dietary sources:

  • Fish oil
  • Salt water fish
  • Fortified milk, orange juice, morning cereals

(more…)

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Diet to Lower Cholesterol

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is present in the blood and in most of cells, and is a part of substances called lipids. In the blood, cholesterol is bound to certain proteins what makes lipoproteins. Roughly, they are two types of lipoproteins:

  • LDL = Low Density Lipoproteins that contain a lot of cholesterol (what makes them low density). This is denoted as LDL cholesterol and is called “bad” cholesterol since, when in excess, it deposits on the inner arterial walls, building plaques called atheromas that harden and clog arteries. The disorder is known as atherosclerosis (from Greek atheroma = cholesterol plaque; sclerosis = hardening of arterial wall).
  • HDL = High Density Lipoproteins that contain small amount of cholesterol denoted as HDL cholesterol that takes excessive cholesterol from LDL and carry it away from the blood, so it is called “good” cholesterol. 

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Thyroxine Effects and Hypothyroidism

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Thyroxine Effects

  • Increases Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) > increased heat production 

Hypothyroidism

What Lowers TSH Release (1)

Pituitary (hypophysis) hormone TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) stimulates thyroid to release thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 and T3, when they reach a certain level, lower release of TSH by negative feedback loop. In low T4/T3 (hypothyroidism) TSH will be high, and in high T4/3 (hyperthyroidism) TSH will be low (1). Other factors that lower TSH level:

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Posted in Hormonal Disorders, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Low Body Temperature + Low Appetite + Fatigue + Skin Rash

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

If you have:

  • Low body temperature for at least one month, at least 0,5°C (0,9°F) lower than your usual temperature
  • Low appetite
  • Fatigue
  • Weigh gain
  • Skin Rash…

..then you might have:

  1. Lowered thyroid function (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
  2. Increased adrenal funcion (Cushing’s syndrome)

Posted in Gastrointestinal Disorders, Hormonal Disorders, Nutrition, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Explanation of Raised EBV Antibodies in the Blood Serum

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Written by Jan Modric, February 10th, 2009

Introduction

The aim of this article is to help to explain results of tests of EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) antibodies levels in the  blood .

The main reason for elevated EBV antibodies in the blood is infectious mononucleosis (IM). 95% of us were probably infected with EBV at some point in life, but only some of us had notable symptoms of IM (1).

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Posted in Infectious Diseases, Uncategorized | No Comments »