Bovine pituitary extract, or BPE, is a filtered, water-based extract of fresh pituitary glands from cattle. As a source of growth factors and hormones, BPE is used in tissue culture research to support various cell lines, such as skin, breast, lung and prostate.
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Table sugar, or sucrose, is a dietary sweetener derived from a variety of plant sources, including sugarcane and sugar beets. Nutritionists classify sucrose as a simple sugar, because your body easily and quickly digests and assimilates it.
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L-arginine and L-lysine are amino acids that coexist in many protein-rich foods, such as tuna, watercress, nuts and soy. Your body uses amino acids to manufacture structural proteins, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and other important molecules.
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Xanax, or alprazolam, is a member of the benzodiazepine family, which includes diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and midazolam. Benzodiazepines are used as sedatives, muscle relaxants, anti-anxiety agents and anti-convulsants. Some are used to enhance the effects of anesthesia.
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Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland at the base of your brain. Its production and release is enhanced when you are in darkness and suppressed when you are exposed to bright light.
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Loxoprofen sodium is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, marketed under various trade names in Brazil, Japan, Argentina and Mexico. It is not approved for use in the United States. Loxoprofen is in the same chemical family as ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen.
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Riboflavin, or vitamin B-2, is a member of the B complex family. Riboflavin is a water-soluble, vibrantly yellow vitamin, which accounts for the fluorescent yellow-green urine of people who take vitamin B complex supplements.
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5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is one of several byproducts arising from the metabolism of the amino acid L-tryptophan. L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, meaning your body cannot synthesize it and it must be obtained from your food.
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Methotrexate is a strong medication used to treat a wide array of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and various cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and bone cancer. It is also employed in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, a condition in which the pregnancy is growing outside the womb.
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Fish oil supplements are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA. Because they confer a variety of health benefits, EPA and DHA have been the subjects of intense scientific scrutiny.
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Vitamin B-6 is found in three related forms in food -- pyridoxine, pyridoxal and pyridoxamine -- all of which are attached to a phosphate group when they get into your tissues. Nutritionist Dr. Elson Haas reports that pyridoxal phosphate is the most biologically active form of vitamin B-6.
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Amino acids are relatively small nitrogen-containing molecules that serve as building blocks for proteins and other organic compounds. Of the 22 amino acids in nature, 20 are present in your cells.
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An allergy is an abnormal immune response to environmental agents called allergens. Pollen, animal dander, dust mites and mold spores are common allergens. One of the most familiar forms of allergy is allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.
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Gluten is a complex protein found in the grains of wheat, barley and rye. The consumption of alpha-gliadin, a component of gluten, invokes an abnormal immune response in the intestines of people with gluten-sensitive enteropathy, also called celiac disease, according to a report in the 2002 "American Family Physician."
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“The New England Journal of Medicine” reports that every year 11 percent of American women seek medical care for a urinary tract infection, UTI. If you are female, your lifetime risk for developing a UTI is 60 percent.
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Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, has been called the “red vitamin” by patients who receive injections to treat B-12 deficiencies. In 2009, “Medical News Today” reported that 30 to 40 million B-12 injections are given each year in the U.S. alone, and side effects are relatively uncommon.
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Azithromycin is a “broad-spectrum” antibiotic that is similar to its much older cousin, erythromycin.
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Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is an intestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, gas, bloating and altered bowel habits. People with IBS can have either constipation or diarrhea, and many individuals alternate between the two.
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When you swallow foods or liquids, they pass from your mouth to your stomach through a tube called the esophagus. With a burp, air from your stomach rises through the esophagus to reach your mouth. However, your esophagus is not just a passive conduit that allows the back-and-forth transfer of substances.
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Maintaining optimal nutrition throughout your pregnancy is vital. Not only does your baby need an abundant supply of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to develop properly, you also require additional nutritional support to prepare you for labor, delivery, nursing and motherhood.
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