Glossary
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N-Acetyl Glucosamine:
A naturally occurring amino sugar synthesized in the body from l-glutamine and glucose.
Alpha lipoic acid:
An endogenous antioxidant.
Ayurvedic medicine:
East Indian approach to medicine. It is the ancient and traditional holistic healing system of India. As a holistic system, Ayurveda encompasses not just the treatment of disease but also the creation and maintenance of health and wellness.
Arachidonic Acid:
An essential dietary component Which functions as the precursor for the biosynthesis Of prostaglandins and thromboxanes.
Biotin:
Is a water-soluble B vitamin and acts as a Coenzyme during the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Bioflavonoids:
Are a class of water-soluble plant pigments. Some bioflavonoids do support health as anti-inflammatory, antihistaminic, and antiviral agents.
CAM:
Complimentary Alternative Medicine – Integrated medical approach to health and disease using conventional therapies in combination with alternative therapies.
Cardiomyopathy:
Typically a chronic disorder of heart muscle that may involve hypertrophy and obstructure damage to the heart.
Choline:
(L-Alpha Glyceryl Phosohorycholine) A phospholipid-derived substance, which enhances cognition and may enhance hormone secretion. May positively affect some cognition disorders, including Alzheimer’s.
Carnitine:
An amino acid required for the transport of long chain fatty acids across mitochondrial membranes of the cell. This is essential to the process of converting fatty acids into energy via oxidation and the citric acid cycle.
Chromium:
An essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels. Copper: A trace mineral needed to absorb and utilize iron and to make ATP.
Curcumin:
Plant derived pigment with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally curcumin may also have anti-viral, anti-carcinogenic, and hypocholesterolemic activities.
Cyclooxygenase:
Enzyme complex present in most tissues that produces various prostaglandins and thromboxanes from arachidonic acid.
Cysteine:
A nonessential amino acid, one of the few that contains sulfur. The body uses cysteine to produce taurine, another amino acid.
Cytokines:
Non-antibody proteins secreted by leukocytes that act as intercellular mediators. They differ from classical hormones in that they are produced by a number of tissue or cell types rather than by specialized glands. They generally act locally in a paracrine or autocrine rather than an endocrine manner.
DHA:
Docosahexanoic Acid (Omega-3 oil)–belongs to the class of nutrients called essential fatty acids. DHA has been shown to reduce levels of blood triglycerides and inflammatory mediators.
Dietary fiber:
Is divided into two general categories:
water-soluble and water insoluble. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol. Diets high in insoluble fiber appear to correlate better with protection against heart disease.
EDM:
Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy–Is a diffuse, degenerative disease of the spinal cord and brain stem. Caused by a vitamin E deficiency in the equine species.
EFA:
Essential Fatty Acids–Include both omega-3 and –6 series and are essential for cell membrane stability, prostaglandin synthesis, and regulate various metabolic functions. EFA’s stimulate growth, benefit skin and hair, influence the inflammatory response, and affect neural development.
Eicosanoids:
Are a major structural component of all cell walls and are precursors to regulatory lipids, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes; which mediate the inflammatory responses in most tissues.
Eleutherococcus Senticosus:
Is a distant relative of true ginseng. It has been used by human athletes to reduce physical and mental stress.
Evidence based medicine:
An approach to the practice of health care that has recently been promoted by many human medical specialists and practitioners. The theory suggests that intervention decisions (including diagnosis, therapy, and prevention) must be based on qualitative evidence.
EIPH:
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage –
EPA:
Eiscosapentaenoic Acid–Is a major omega-3 component of fish oil. Supplemental EPA may have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and immunodulatory activities.
Folic Acid:
A vitamin required for DNA synthesis. It is a synthetic folate form, which is used for food fortification and nutritional supplements. Folate is influential in several biological processes including DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis.
Free Radicals:
Containing and unpaired electron and short half-lives, free radicals are extremely reactive compounds.
Glycosaminoglycans:
Are a major component of proteoglycans, which make up articular cartilage.
Glucosamine:
An amine monosaccharide found in chitin, glycoprotein, and glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine plays a role in the promotion and maintenance of the structure and function of joint cartilage.
Glutathione:
Antioxidant that may have detoxification and immunomdulary activities as well as may have beneficial effects on sperm motility and muscle recovery.
Immunomodulators:
A drug or substance that alters, suppresses or strengthens the body’s immune system.
Interleukins:
A variety of naturally occurring polypeptides that are members of the family of cytokines, which affect functions of specific cell types and are found in small quantities. There are twelve identified to date.
Isoleucine:
Branched Chain Amino acid
Nutraceutical Medicine:
The use of micronutrients, macronutrients, and other nutritional supplements.
Orthomolecular Medicine:
(as defined by Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling) The preservation of health and the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular constitution of the body.
Protease:
Enzymes that degrade protein molecules
Protease Inhibitors:
Compounds which inhibit or antagonize biosynthesis or actions of proteases.
Schisandra:
An herb that protects the liver from toxic substances. Acts as an adaptogen.
Selenium:
An essential trace element with antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects. Deficiency in humans has been associated with depressed IgG and IgM. In animals deficiency has resulted in depressed neutrophil activity. Deficiencies increase susceptibility to malignancy in the presence of carcinogens.
Uncaria Tomentosa:
Quinovic acid glycosides and triterpenes, which function with anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity. A steroidal fraction is anti-inflammatory. Anti-oxidant. Stimulation of the non-specific immune system with activation of macrophages and granulocytes to eliminate non-physiological substances.
Valine:
Branched chain amino acid.
Vitamin B1:
Water soluble vitamin necessary for energy production and carbohydrate metabolism.
Vitamin B12:
Member of the water soluble B group. Important in the proper function of the nervous system and important in proper carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. Deficiency can lead to anemia.
Vitamin B6:
Collective term for 3 related compounds:
Pyridoxine (PN), Pyridoxal (PL), and Pyridoxamine (PM) and their phosphoryated derivatives PNP, PLP, PMP. Vitamin B6 is involved in amino acid and glycogen metabolism, synthesis of nucleic acids, hemoglobin and the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, norepinepherine and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). Symptoms of deficiency include microcytic, hypo chromic anemia, seizure activity, seborrheic dermatitis, confusion, and depression.
Common Conversions necessary when looking at nutrient levels in supplements and feeds:
Metric Weight conversion table
1,000 micrograms ( mcg) = 1 milligram ( mg)
1,000 milligrams ( mg) = 1 gram ( gm)
28.35 grams (gm) = 1 ounce (oz)
453.6 grams (gm) = 1 pound( lb)
1,000 grams ( gm) = 1 kilogram(kg) = 2.2 pounds
Feed conversions for parts per million (ppm) to percentages, or percentages to parts per million (ppm). Divide the number of parts per million by 1,000,000 to get the percentage and multiply the percentage by 1,000,000 to get parts per million.
Examples
10 parts per million (ppm) = 0.001 %
100 parts per million(ppm) = 0.01 %
1000 parts per million (ppm) = 0.1%
Remember a percentage 0.1% is actually .001
Examples
0.20% times 1,000,000 = 2,000 ppm
0.002 times 1,000,000 = 2,000 ppm
2000 ppm divided by 1,000,000 = 0.002 or 0.2%
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