Medical answers

Archive for May, 2009

A proprietary combination of ascorbic acid (see VITAMIN c), vitamin A, ergocalciferol (vitamin D2),
calcium hydrogen phosphate (a calcium supplement), and potassium iodide (a source of iodine), used as
a vitamin and mineral supplement for women who are breastfeeding. It is available without a prescription.
Side effects and interactions with other drugs: see VITAMIN A.
Precautions: these tablets are not recommended for women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant unless a doctor advises otherwise.

A fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the production of factors (including prothrombin) that are essential for blood clotting. Because vitamin K dissolves in fat, people who do not absorb fat properly also do not absorb vitamin K and become deficient in the vitamin. Read the rest of this entry »

A group of fat-soluble vitamins that stabilize cell membranes by protecting them from the damaging effects of oxygen free radicals, which are produced by various disease processes and toxic substances, i.e. they have antioxidant effects. Read the rest of this entry »

A fat-soluble vitamin that promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine and their deposition in bone. Read the rest of this entry »

A water-soluble vitamin that is essential for maintaining healthy connective tissues and the integrity of cell membranes: it is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, which is required to produce connective tissue. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties, i.e. it neutralizes oxygen free radicals, which are produced by various disease processes and toxic substances and have damaging effects on the body. Read the rest of this entry »

A group of water-soluble vitamins that, although not chemically related, are often found together in the same kinds of food (including milk, liver, and cereals).
Vitamin B1 is required for carbohydrate metabolism; a deficiency leads to beriberi. Vitamin B2
is important for oxygen exchange in the tissues. Vitamin B6 is involved in protein metabolism. Vitamin B12
is necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), the maintenance of myelin (an important component of certain nerve cells), and the proper functioning of folic acid. B12 can be absorbed only in the presence of intrinsic factor, a protein secreted in the stomach. Read the rest of this entry »

A fat-soluble vitamin that is necessary for healthy vision, particularly vision in dim light. It is also essential for growth and the integrity of mucous tissue (in the mouth, eyes, nose, and genitals). Vitamin A deficiency causes stunted growth, night blindness, and drying and thickening of the cornea, which can progress eventually to blindness. The vitamin occurs in foods of animal origin, especially milk products, egg yolk, and liver, and it can be formed in the body from beta-carotene, a pigment found in vegetables, especially carrots, cabbage, and lettuce. Read the rest of this entry »

A condition marked by widespread narrowing of the bronchial airways, which changes in severity over short periods of time (either spontaneously or under treatment) and leads to cough, wheezing, and difficulty in breathing. Read the rest of this entry »

A mineral element necessary for the functioning of all cells of the body Together with sodium, it is essential for the conduction of impulses in nerves and the functioning of muscles. Low concentrations of potassium can cause weakness, confusion, and in severe cases abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium supplements are salts of potassium given to prevent or treat potassium deficiency. Read the rest of this entry »

A short-acting drug that is used for the short-term treatment of insomnia. It acts in the same way as benzodiazepines, but takes a shorter time to act and has little or no hangover effect. Zolpidem is available as tablets on prescription only. Read the rest of this entry »