What Is Alpha-Linolenic Acid?

A lpha-linolenic acid is an essential (need/can’t make) polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid that must be obtained in the diet. Alpha-linolenic acid is found in plant sources only.

Alpha-linolenic acid is required for normal brain function and nervous system health. It is an important building material for the eicosanoids.

Q: What are eicosanoids?

A: Eicosanoids are a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels).

Alpha-linolenic acid is a “parent” fatty acid because if sufficient amounts are present in the body, it can be used to produce both eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two other critical omega-3 fatty acids.¹ However, this conversion is limited. In healthy individuals, the conversion rate of ALA to EPA is less than 5 to 10% and ALA to DHA is only 2 to 5%.

Additionally, a deficient level of the mineral selenium can interfere with the conversion of alpha-linolenic acid into EPA and DHA. Also, folic acid supplement has been shown to increase omega-3 status and, conversely, to decrease omega-3 when folic acid is in deficient in animal models.

What Is Alpha-Linolenic Acid Deficiency?

Sources:

1. Richardson AJ. The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for behavior, cognition, and mood. Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition. 2003; 47(2):92-8 [↩]

What Is Copper Deficiency?

C opper is an essential trace element that is required for a number of enzymes which are necessary for normal metabolic function.

In the body almost all the copper is present as a component of copper proteins which are produced and controlled by the liver.

Q: How does the liver control copper?

A: The liver maintains proper copper balance by binding free copper to proteins and by excreting excess copper as part of bile that is then emptied into the intestinal tract and excreted in stool.

Metabolic balance studies have demonstrated that daily copper losses are approximately 1.3 mg/day.¹

Among its specific functions listed below, copper is essential for energy production, blood and nerve functions, blood components, immunity, and collagen tissue. The copper enzyme, lysyl oxidase, is involved in the cross-linking of collagen in forming the framework for depositing calcium and other minerals to build and repair bone.

Animal studies suggest that adequate copper levels during pregnancy are critical to development of higher brain function in the offspring.²

What Is Copper Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. Williams DM. Copper deficiency in humans. Semin Hematol. 1983 Apr; 20(2):118-28. [↩]
2. Fisgin T, Yarali N, Duru F, Usta B, Kara A. Hematologic manifestation of childhood celiac disease. Acta Haematol. 2004;111(4):211-4. [↩]

What Is Chromium?

C hromium is a mineral that the body absolutely requires in trace amounts for normal metabolism, meaning the physical and chemical processes by which energy is produced and used.

Chromium is especially involved in the use of glucose sugar and lipids such as cholesterol and the effectiveness of insulin hormone.

Q: How is chromium involved in the use of glucose?

A: Very small amounts of chromium are required to enable insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream into cells for use as energy.

Insulin is a hormone that controls the use and storage of glucose in two ways: 1) lowers a rise of glucose in blood after meals by moving it out of the bloodstream into body cells, especially muscle cells and 2) limits the release of glucose from the liver between meals. Insulin is produced by beta cells on the surface of the pancreas.

To date, the molecular mechanism by which chromium affects glucose and lipid metabolism is still unclear.¹

What Is Chromium Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. Lewicki S, Zdanowski R, Krzyżowska M, Lewicka A, Dębski B, Niemcewicz M, Goniewicz M. The role of Chromium III in the organism and its possible use in diabetes and obesity treatment. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014 Jun 10;21(2):331-335. [↩]

What Is Iron?

I ron is an essential mineral that is required for normal body function.

Almost two-thirds of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. Smaller amounts of iron are found in myoglobin, a protein that helps supply oxygen to muscle, and in enzymes that assist biochemical reactions.

Iron is also found in proteins that store iron for future needs and that transport iron in blood.

Q: How are iron stores regulated?

A:Iron stores are regulated by intestinal iron absorption.¹That is, whenever iron is needed, more iron is absorbed than when iron is sufficient. This mechanism prevents excess iron in the body which is harmful.

In the brain, iron is necessary to ensure oxygenation and to produce energy in the cerebral parenchyma (via cytochrome oxid. ase), and for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelin.

Iron concentrations in the umbilical artery are critical during the development of the fetus, and in relation with the IQ in the child.²

What Is Iron Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional accessed 12/11/12 [↩]
2. Bourre JM. Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 1: micronutrients. J Nutr Health Aging. 2006 Sep-Oct; 10(5):377-85. [↩]

What Is Phosphorus?

P hosphorus is an essential mineral present in every cell of the body mostly in the form of phosphate.

About 85% of phosphorus is present in bone making up a major component of bone formation. As a component of calcium phosphate, phosphorus constitutes 45% of skeletal bone weight while calcium constitutes 40% to support the body.¹.

Phosphorus is required for normal tooth development. Inadequate phosphorus in early childhood development makes for defective tooth enamel in permanent teeth.

Phosphorus is crucial for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a molecule within cells that the body uses to store energy, and is required for production of phosphocreatine to power muscles.  Functions are more fully described below.

One gram of protein in food provides approximately 15 mg of phosphorus. In an adult, the body content of phosphorus ia about 700 grams.

What Is Phosphorus Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002424.htm [↩]

What Is Potassium?

P otassium is a mineral that is crucial for life being essential for every cell, especially nerve and muscle function.

Most potassium is intracellular, meaning it is found within cells while sodium, its opposing mineral (both electrolytes), is found in the fluid surrounding cells.

In muscle contraction, exchange of potassium and sodium takes place so that potassium moves out of muscle cells and sodium moves into them.

With muscle relaxation, potassium moves back into the cells and sodium moves out. Functions are described below.

Importantly, a recent study investigating the association between the metabolic syndrome and potassium intake in the general population found a significant inverse association between potassium intake and metabolic syndrome in adults. That is, the lower the potassium intake, the greater the odds of developing metabolic syndrome. After adjusting for various lifestyle and dietary confounders, subjects in the highest quartile of potassium intake had 39% lower odds for metabolic syndrome compared to those in the lowest quartile. This association was consistent for both sexes. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, potassium intake was inversely related to abdominal obesity and fasting hyperglycemia in multivariate analysis.¹

What Is Potassium Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. Shin D, Joh HK, Kim KH, Park SM. Benefits of potassium intake on metabolic syndrome: The fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV). Atherosclerosis. 2013 Sep;230(1):80-5. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.06.025. [↩]

What Is Selenium?

S elenium is a mineral that is required by the body  in trace amounts for a healthy immune system, normal thyroid function, and antioxidant protection.

Selenium is absolutely required in the production of at least 30 selenoproteins in the body. First, selenium is joined to the amino acids cysteine as selenocysteine and to methionine as selenomethionine before being used as components for selenoproteins. Many selenoproteins are important antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase.

Q: How does glutathione peroxidase work?

A: Glutathione peroxidase activity helps the recycling of vitamins C and E in optimizing the performance of the antioxidant system. The antioxidant properties of selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Free radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

In the immune system, selenium stimulates immune properties of lymphocytes (white blood cells) by contributing to higher natural killer lymphocyte activity. Natural killer lymphocytes have the ability to destroy cancer cells and bacterial and viral agents.

Other selenoproteins help protect the thyroid gland from anti-oxidants and regulate thyroid function. Specifically, selenium plays an integral role in thyroid gland metabolism.¹ Functions are more fully described below.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, approximately 30 percent of tissue selenium is contained in the liver, 15 percent in kidney, 30 percent in muscle, and 10 percent in blood plasma.

What Is Selenium Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. Stazi AV, Trinti B. Selenium status and over-expression of interleukin-15 in celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2010;46(4):389-99.DOI: 10.4415/ANN_10_04_06. [↩]

What Is Zinc?

Z inc is an essential trace mineral that is involved in numerous aspects of cellular metabolism, being essential for activation of almost 200 enzymes that have vital roles in the body.

Q: What happens when enzymes do not get activated?

A: When enzymes do not get activated, they cannot perform their necessary functions which, in turn, damages health.

Zinc promotes healthy skin, hair, immunity, fertility, and growth.

A daily intake of zinc is required to maintain a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system.¹ Functions are more fully described below.

What Is Zinc Deficiency in Celiac Disease?

Sources:

1. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/ [↩]

What Are Essential Amino Acids?

A mino acids are small molecules, or subunits, that link together in various combinations to make up big, complicated proteins. As such, amino acids are commonly referred to as “the building blocks” of proteins.

Q: How many amino acids are used in our body?

A: There are 20 amino acids that are used within our body to synthesize or produce our unique human proteins.  Of these amino acids,  9 are termed essential, meaning our bodies require them to live but cannot make them. Therefore, the essential amino acids must come from the food we eat, whether from plant or animal sources.

The essential amino acids include histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

What Is Deficiency Of Essential Amino Acids In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Vitamin A?

V itamin A is a family of fat-soluble compounds that are essential for health, vision, protection of the body, reproduction, and normal growth of children before and after birth.

Q: What is the family of vitamin A?

A: The natural vitamin A family members are called retinoids. Retinoids are found only in animal food sources. They include retinol (alcohol form), retinal (aldehyde form), and retinoic acid (acid form).

In the plant kingdom, pigments called carotenoids can yield retinoids on metabolism in the body. Carotenoids that can converted to retinol include β-carotene, α-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin.¹

There are hundreds of various carotenoids although only a few have been researched including beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Fruits and vegetables that are a rich source of carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits by decreasing the risk of various diseases, particularly eye diseases and certain cancers (esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, bladder and cervical). In this respect, research shows that the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables may prevent 20% of most types of cancers.²

In part, the beneficial effects of carotenoids are thought to be due to their role as antioxidants. Lutein and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light that enters the eye.³

The antioxidant effects appear to be highest in fresh fruit as compared to preserved fruit. A study of fresh peach pulps and peel in animals demonstrated highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in fresh fruits preventing against induced damage in animal tissues.⁴

A study investigating the specific anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant micronutrients that reduce oxidative stress showed that adolescents with metabolic syndrome (MetS) had consistently lower carotenoid concentrations compared with their counterparts without MetS. MetS prevalence was estimated at 7% among boys and 3% among girls.⁵

What Is Vitamin A Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:

1. Maggio M, de Vita F, Lauretani F, et al. Relationship between Carotenoids, Retinol, and Estradiol Levels in Older Women. Nutrients. 2015 Aug 5;7(8):6506-19. doi: 10.3390/nu7085296. [↩]
2. Gasparotto J, Somensi N, Bortolin RC, Moresco KS, Girardi CS, Klafke K, Rabelo TK, Morrone Mda S, Vizzotto M, Raseira Mdo C, Moreira JC, Gelain DP. Effects of different products of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) from a variety developed in southern Brazil on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in vitro and ex vivo. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2014 Sep;55(2):110-9. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.13-97. Epub 2014 Sep 1. [↩]
3. Krinsky NI1, Johnson EJ. Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease. ((Mol Aspects Med. 2005 Dec;26(6):459-516. [↩]
4. Gasparotto J, Somensi N, Bortolin RC, Moresco KS, Girardi CS, Klafke K, Rabelo TK, Morrone Mda S, Vizzotto M, Raseira Mdo C, Moreira JC, Gelain DP. Effects of different products of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) from a variety developed in southern Brazil on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in vitro and ex vivo. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2014 Sep;55(2):110-9. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.13-97. [↩]
5. TGBeydoun MA, Canas JA, Beydoun HA, Chen X, Shroff MR, Zonderman AB. Serum antioxidant concentrations and metabolic syndrome are associated among U.S. adolescents in recent national surveys. J Nutr. 2012 Sep;142(9):1693-704. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.160416. [↩]