Alzheimer's disease- A disease of progressive loss of intellectual abilities involving impairment of memory, judgment, and abstract thinking as well as changes in personality. It is characterized by atrophy of the brain's cortex and has distinctive histologic changes.

Amino acid- Organic compound containing an amino (NH2) and a carboxyl group. They are the building blocks of protein. Some can be made by the body and others must be obtained through the diet.

Anemia- A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or in total volume.

Anorexia- Loss of appetite for food.

Burning Feet Syndrome- A sign of pantothenic acid deficiency first observed among prisoners of war and malnourished individuals in the Far East. The symptoms respond to administration of pantothenic acid.

Cardiac arrhythmia- Irregular heartbeat.

Cardiomyopathy- Disease of the heart muscle. Symptoms may include fatigue, shortness of breath, enlargement of the heart, or heart failure.

Carpal tunnel syndrome- A condition caused by compression of a nerve where it passes through the wrist into the hand. Characterized by weakness, pain, and disturbances of sensations in the hand.

Celiac disease- A disease characterized by sensitivity to the protein in many grain products leading to chronic inflammation of the small intestine. Symptoms include abdominal distension, diarrhea, malabsorption, fatty stools and vitamin deficiencies.

Coagulation- Clotting or thickening. The process of changing from a liquid to a solid, especially as with blood.

Crohn's disease- A chronic inflammatory disease involving any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

Dementia- An organic mental disorder of general loss of intellectual abilities involving impaired memory, judgment and abstract thinking as well as personality changes.

Dermatitis- Inflammation of the skin.

Free radical- An unstable and highly reactive atom that carries an unpaired electron (e.g., oxygen molecules formed in the process of metabolism). The production of free radicals may also be increased by many factors such as aging, stress, pollution, or excess alcohol intake. Because they are highly reactive, free radicals can damage cells possibly leading to numerous diseases. The antioxidant nutrients- vitamins E, C, and beta carotene and the minerals zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese- may neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells.

Gastrointestinal intolerance- "Upset stomach." Irritation of stomach or intestine.

Glucose- Sugar or dextrose found in certain foods and in the normal blood of all animals.

Hemoglobin- A red iron-containing respiratory protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues where the oxygen is released. Also assists in carbon dioxide transport back to the lungs.

High-density lipoproteins- Often referred to as "the good cholesterol." Transports cholesterol from the arteries to the liver to be disposed of. High levels are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.

Homocysteine- An amino acid that, in high levels, has been linked to heart disease. Individuals with a low intake of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid tend to have higher homocysteine levels since these nutrients are needed to convert homocysteine into other compounds.

Hypertension- The medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure is associated with an increased risk for stroke and kidney failure.

Insomnia- Difficulty sleeping.

IU- An abbreviation for International Units. These are the units of measurements used for some vitamins.

Keshan disease- A form of heart disease that affects mostly woman of childbearing age and young children. Selenium deficiency predisposes people to the development of this disease.

LDL oxidation- Oxidation is a process in which the use of oxygen causes electrons to be lost from molecules, which causes them to be unstable or reactive. These unstable molecules can cause cell damage. When this process occurs with LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol (sometimes referred to as "the bad cholesterol") it may begin a chain of events that causes plaque to build up in arteries. This increases the risk of heart disease.

Lesions- A wound or injury.

Metabolic enzymes- Enzymes are proteins secreted by cells that induce chemical change in other substances without being changed itself. Metabolic enzymes are those involved in the biochemical activities of the body.

Metabolism- The entire physical and chemical events by which the human body is organized and maintained, also the transformation by which energy is made available.

Neural tube birth defects- Birth defects of the brain and/or spinal cord. Common types are spina bifida, anencephaly, and encephalocele. These occur during the first month of pregnancy when the neural tube of the fetus is forming. Research indicates that women who consume adequate folic acid prior to conception and during the first month of pregnancy can reduce their risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect.

Neurotransmitters- Chemical substances that transmit information from one cell to another, via the space (synapsis) between nerve cells.

Osteomalacia- A disease of adults that is characterized by softening of the bones.

Osteoporosis- A condition that affects older women primarily and is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and increased fragility of the bones. Accounts for the majority of hip and bone fractures that occur.

Parkinson's disease- A chronic progressive nerve disease that is marked by tremors, weakness and a shuffling gait.

Pellagra- A disease marked by inflammation of the skin, gastrointestinal, nervous and mental disorders. Associated with a diet deficient in niacin.

Pernicious anemia- A chronic, progressive condition of older adults characterized by numbness and tingling, weakness, a sore smooth tongue, shortness of breath, faintness, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever. Caused by the lack of intrinsic factor which is needed to absorb vitamin B12.

Rickets- A disease that affects the young during the period of skeletal growth. Characterized by soft, deformed bones. Caused by an inability to use calcium and phosphorus normally due to inadequate vitamin D.

Seborrheic dermatitis- Also known as eczema. Scaly patches that occur primarily on the face, scalp, back, and pubic area.

Skin hemorrhages- The breaking of capillaries or escape of blood from the vessels that go to the skin.

Thyroid- A gland that lies at the base of the neck which produces hormones necessary for metabolism.

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)- The highest level of daily intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effect for almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects increases.

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome- A condition often seen in alcoholics due to thiamin deficiency. Characterized by confusion, memory loss, tremors, and eye disturbances.