Author: Glossary

Abnormality of the sense of taste. Perverted sense of taste. Disorder or abnormality of the sense of taste. Intravenous fluid therapy, especially postoperatively, may create temporary parageusia and parosmia.  

Movement of solute between cells. Pertaining to pathways or junctions between or around cells. It is used for ions that pass through an epithelial membrane without entering its cells.  

Essential growth factor for microorganisms. It forms part of the molecule of folic acid and is therefore required for the synthesis of this vitamin. Mammals cannot synthesise folic acid, and PABA has no other known function; there is no evidence that it is a human dietary requirement. Not normally present in human diets, can be…

The biologically active alcohol of pantothenic acid.  

Chemically the N-di-isopropyl derivative of glucuronic acid. Claimed to be an antioxidant, and to speed recovery from fatigue. Sometimes called vitamin B15, but there is no evidence that it is a dietary essential, nor that it has any metabolic function. Pangamic acid is a substance commonly marketed as vitamin B15 or dimethylglycine. Its actual identity…

Preparation made from the pancreas of animals containing the enzymes of pancreatic juice. Used to replace pancreatic enzymes in cystic fibrosis as an aid to digestion. A substance made from enzymes secreted by the pancreas, used to treat someone whose paficreas does not produce pancreatic enzymes. Extract of pancreas; contains pancreatic enzymes. Extract from the…

A mono-unsaturated fatty acid (06:1 ω9).  

Isomaltulose, a disaccharide of glucose and fructose, an isomer of sucrose.  

Cytochrome P450 proteins are mainly drug-metabolising enzymes but are also important for metabolising some endogenously derived compounds such as cholesterol, prostacyclin, thromboxane A2, vitamins A and D etc. The P450 proteins are categorised into families and subfamilies. In humans there are 18 families and 43 subfamilies. Most drugs are metabolised by three families: CYP1, CYP2…