Author: Glossary

Severe functional zinc deficiency due to failure to secrete an as yet unidentified compound in pancreatic juice that is required for zinc absorption. Rare disease in children aged 3 weeks to 18 months that may be fatal if untreated. The genetically determined cause is malabsorption of zinc. Onset is insidious with failure to thrive, diarrhea,…

Ability to produce acid through bacterial metabolism.  

These terms refer to the residue of the metabolism of foods. The mineral salts of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium are base-forming, while phosphorus, sulphur and chlorine are acid-forming. Which of these predominates in foods determines whether the residue is acidic or basic (alkaline); meat, cheese, eggs and cereals leave an acidic residue, while milk,…

Chemically, compounds that dissociate (ionise) in water to give rise to hydrogen ions (H+); they taste sour. A substance in which the hydrogen ion concentration is greater than the hydroxyl ion. May be organic or inorganic. Generally sharp and sour taste. A substance with a pH in the range from 0-6 which will react with…

Deficiency of hydrochloric acid in gastric digestive juice. The lack of free hydrochloric acid  in the stomach; more broadly, inadequate or suppressed secretions. The cause vary from stomach ulcers, alcoholism, adrenalin stress, and old age to a stomach carcinoma. Without enough acid, pepsin is inactive, proteins are poorly digested, and the prolonged contact with foreign,…

Synthetic compound with vitamin K activity; vitamin K3, or menaquinone-0.  

Product of addition of alcohol to aldehyde. Chemical combination of an aldehyde with alcohol.  

The amount of a food additive that could be taken daily for an entire lifespan without appreciable risk. Determined by measuring the highest dose of the substance that has no effect on experimental animals, then dividing by a safety factor of 100. Estimation of the maximum allowable level of a food component or contaminant. These…