What Is Vitamin C? Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid or ascorbate, is an essential water soluble vitamin. Fresh supplies of vitamin C are required every day to perform vital roles throughout the body among which are the production of ...
Read More »Vitamin D Deficiency
What Is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is the principle regulator of calcium homeostasis (balance) in the body. This “vitamin” is really a prohormone, meaning it acts like a hormone but is not. Vitamin D does, however, contain cholesterol in its molecular ...
Read More »Vitamin E Deficiency
What Is Vitamin E? Vitamin E is not a single vitamin but naturally occurs as a fat-soluble vitamin family that consists of at least 8 distinct molecules. These molecules include 4 tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) and 4 tocotrienols ...
Read More »Vitamin K Deficiency
What Is Vitamin K? Vitamin K is a family of fat-soluble vitamins, called K vitamers, that exists in three forms: K1 is a natural form found in plants (phylloquinone); K2, found in some animal foods, is synthesized in the intestine ...
Read More »Vitiligo
What Is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder of the skin characterized by permanent loss of melanocytes in defined areas and, in some patients, antibodies to melanin. Vitiligo has significant psychological impact if occurring before adulthood.1 Q: What are melanocytes? A: ...
Read More »Volvulus
What Is Volvulus? Volvulus is twisting of a loop(s) of bowel onto itself which effectively closes it thus preventing digested matter from passing and causing engorgement of the closed loop with gas and fluid. Q: How does the bowel get ...
Read More »Vomiting
What Is Vomiting? Vomiting is the regurgitation of swallowed food back out of the mouth. What Is Vomiting In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?
Read More »Weight Gain, Unexplained
What Is Unexplained Weight Gain? Unexplained weight gain is characterized by increased body mass due to excess fat accumulation that is not desired by the individual. A body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30 signifies being overweight. What Is ...
Read More »Weight Loss, Unexpected/ Inability To Gain Weight
What Is Unexpected Weight Loss? Unexpected weight loss is unintentional loss of body mass composition or inability to gain weight marked by decreased serum proteins and increased stool fat.1 What Is Unexpected Weight Loss In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity? ...
Read More »Xerophthalmia
What Is Xerophthalmia? Xerophthalmia is a serious condition of extreme drying and thickening of the conjunctiva following chronic inflammation and failure to make tears, characterized by hazy, dry cornea. Vitamin A is obtained from the diet and is required in ...
Read More »Zinc Deficiency
What Is Zinc? Zinc 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 ...
Read More »Zincemia (Low Zinc Blood Level)
What Is Zincemia? Zincemia means the zinc level in blood plasma is too low to meet metabolic needs of the body for this mineral. Q: How important is a normal blood level of zinc? A: A low blood level of ...
Read More »