Cutis Laxa, Generalized Acquired: definition
An uncommon elastolytic skin disorder characterized by abnormal reduction and degeneration of elastic fibers of the skin.
Cryptic Intestinal T-cell Lymphoma (Refractory Sprue): definition
A severe complication of celiac disease characterized by persistence of symptoms and intestinal inflammation despite treatment with gluten-free diet.
Dysmenorrhea: definition
What Is DHA?
D ocosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the brain, being crucial in brain structure. As such DHA is a key component of neuronal membranes together with arachidonic acid (a major opposing omega-6 fatty acid), making up 15-20% of the brain’s dry mass.
This polyunsaturated fatty acid is obtained from fish sources of food.
In healthy human volunteers, positron emission tomography (PET) has shown that the normal human brain consumes 4.6 mg/day of DHA.1
DHA is particularly concentrated in highly active membranes such as nerve synapses (junctions) and photoreceptors in the eye (retina).
Q: How much DHA is in the retina?
A: DHA makes up more than 30% of the retina.2
In other roles, DHA is an important building material for the eicosanoids, a large group of highly bioactive hormone-like substances including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and thromboxanes that are involved in blood clotting, inflammation, and vasoconstriction.
DHA has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity as opposed to the opposite problem of insulin resistance, to improve muscle mass, and protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.3
Egert et al. in a study of people aged 19 to 43 years with normal cholesterol showed that DHA intake significantly increased serum HDL (good) cholesterol. Also, DHA significantly decreased fasting serum triglycerides.4
What Is DHA Deficiency In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Sources:- Rapoport SI. Brain arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid cascades are selectively altered by drugs, diet and disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2008 Sep-Nov;79(3-5):153-6. Epub 2008 Oct 29. [↩]
- Richardson AJ. The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for behavior, cognition, and mood. Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition. 2003;47(2):92-8 [↩]
- Espinosa A, Valenzuela R, González-Mañán D, D’Espessailles A, Guillermo Gormaz J, Barrera C, Tapia G. Prevention of liver steatosis through fish oil supplementation: correlation of oxidative stress with insulin resistance and liver fatty acid content. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2013 Mar;63(1):29-36. [↩]
- Egert S, Kannenberg F, Somoza V, et al. Dietary alpha-linolenic acid, EPA, and DHA have differential effects on LDL fatty acid composition but similar effects on serum lipid profiles in normolipidemic humans. J Nutr. 2009;139:861–868. doi: 10.3945/jn.108.103861 [↩]
Constipation Alternating with Diarrhea
A chronic intestinal motility disorder (movement) characterized by alteration in stool formation, consistency, and evacuation.
Coronary Artery Disease: definition
A disease of medium and large arteries of the heart.
Cortical Calcifying Angiomatosis: definition
A cortical vascular (brain blood vessel) abnormality.
Schizophrenia: definition
Schizophrenia is a thought disorder characterized by psychotic symptoms and inappropriate and bizarre behavior affecting cognitive function, interpersonal relationships, work or education, and self care.
Hyperthyroidism – Grave’s Disease
What Is Hypokalemia?
H ypokalemia means the level of potassium in the bloodstream is too low to meet metabolic needs of the body for this mineral and is characterized by metabolic acidosis, altered nerve conduction and muscle contraction.
Rapid potassium loss can result in life-threatening hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis which is destruction of muscle tissue that results in kidney damage.1
Q: What are metabolic needs of the body for potassium?
A: The metabolic needs of the body for potassium are great because this mineral is crucial for life and especially for normal 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.
What Is Hypokalemia In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Sources:- Williams SG, Davison AG, Glynn MJ. Hypokalaemic rhabdomyolsis: an unusual presentation of celiac disease. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Feb 1995;7(2):183-4. [↩]
Hurry! Today is the Deadline to Tell the FDA What YOU Want Gluten-Free to Mean
October 3 is the last chance to have a say on what “GLUTEN-FREE” should mean on food packaging labels.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be heard!
Here is the link to send in your comments on the proposed rule submit comments to the FDA.
Here are the 3 simple steps to get started:
Why Oats Should Be Excluded from the Gluten-Free Diet
The suitability of oats as part of the gluten-free diet has been a source of controversy, with some groups pointing to research suggesting oats are safe and others pointing to other research demonstrating oats are dangerous to those with celiac disease. Close inspection of available medical research clearly shows that oats, even “gluten-free” oats, should not be included in the gluten-free diet at this time.
Until the early 1990’s, oats were excluded from the gluten-free diet, along with wheat, barley and rye. Then, a few pilot studies suggested oats may not cause the harm previously thought. The idea was proposed that people with celiac disease would find their diet more palatable, and would benefit nutritionally, if they were allowed to eat oats.
Heavy contamination of many oat products with wheat, rye, and particularly barley, was a concern. Companies began to produce so-called “gluten-free oats.” These oats were tested for the presence of wheat, barley and rye. They are vigorously marketed as “safe” for celiacs. However, studies show that even “uncontaminated oats” (oats not containing wheat, barley or rye) are toxic to an unknown number of people with celiac disease.
Early studies proclaimed oats to be safe, but they have since been judged faulty with poor validity. Nevertheless, they opened the floodgates to