Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is an essential component in the formation of red blood cells, proper nerve function and the synthesis of DNA, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin B12 is present in foods such...
Vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin needed to make DNA and red blood cells. B-12 deficiency occurs when vitamin B-12 levels are decreased due to poor absorption. The Dietary Reference Intakes of the Institute of...
Vitamin B12 belongs to a group of vitamins called water-soluble vitamins. The vitamin helps red blood cells form, protects nerve cells and allows DNA synthesis. A vitamin B12 deficiency develops when there is not enough B12 available in the body....
The gastrointestinal tract normally consists of microflora and microbiota. The colon contains the greatest amount of microbiota and microflora, while the small intestines contains a much lower amount of bacteria. Small intestinal bacterial...
The intestines typically have a certain amount of bacteria that are able to survive in the environment of the small and large bowel. These bacteria are able to help with the digestive process and are typically not pathogenic. They also serve as a...
Bacterial intestinal diseases can be quite crippling, especially if you suffer from severe stomach pains and diarrhea. Typically, your intestines carry normal flora (bacteria) that aid in digestion of your food. When you suffer from certain...
Your digestive system, from your mouth to the other end, is filled with almost 5 pounds of bacteria and other microbes. Maintaining a healthy gut flora by keeping the balance between the good and the bad bacteria can help your digestion works...
Crohn's disease is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting the digestive tracts, particularly the ileum, the lower portion of the small intestine. The chronic inflammation characteristic of Crohn's disease is believed to be the result of an...
Severe liver problems can, in some cases, cause lactose intolerance, a disorder that occurs when your intestines don't produce an enzyme called lactase. Liver problems can lead to bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, which could cause...
Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease most often affects the small intestine, causing symptoms of abdominal pain and severe diarrhea, according to the National Digestive Diseases...
According to the website Drugs.com, Lactobacillus acidophilus, a naturally occurring bacteria that lives in the intestines and vagina, promotes an acidic environment that discourages the growth of unhealthy bacteria. Even though your body can...
Cleocin is a prescription antibiotic that contains the active ingredient clindamycin. Clindamycin is a lincomycin antibiotic that interferes with the rate of bacterial growth in the body. This medication can be used to treat bacterial infections...
The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (also known as the Specific Carb Diet or SCD) was developed to treat various forms of bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, that cause severe diarrhea, pain and problems absorbing food.
Peppermint has been used as a flavoring agent in cooking and for its medicinal properties since ancient times. It is now used to treat many types of health problems, ranging from the common cold to gall bladder disorders. Currently, no reliable...
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is important for proper nervous system function and healthy red blood cells. The daily recommended B12 intake for adults is 2.4 micrograms per day. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 can cause fatigue,...
Patients who suffer from irritable bowels experience recurrent bouts of abdominal pain accompanied by diarrhea or constipation. Although these are the main symptoms, other common complaints include whitish mucous in stools, cramping, bloating and...
Peppermint tea is a relaxing herbal beverage sometimes recommended by practitioners of alternative medicine. Although many doctors are reticent to advise herbal remedies for pregnant women -- largely due to insufficient evidence -- peppermint is...
Anemia is a condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells. Several types of anemia can develop as a result of various nutrient deficiencies. When your body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells due to a vitamin B12 deficiency,...
Stomach bloating, also known as abdominal bloating, is a condition characterized by abnormal sensations of fullness or tightness in your stomach or abdomen. This condition has a number of potential causes, including weight gain, constipation,...
The proper production of red blood cells relies on the presence of adequate amounts of various nutrients, including vitamin B-12 and iron, in your body. A lack of vitamin B-12 or iron means you do not have enough of the nutrients to create healthy...
Acid reflux is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints, affecting 15 percent of people in the United States on a weekly basis and 7 percent on a daily basis, according to gastroenterologist Raj Goyal in the 2008 edition of Harrison's...
Irritable bowel syndrome, known as IBS, is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of abdominal pain or discomfort accompanied by diarrhea, constipation, or both. The term “functional disorder” refers...
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is most frequently associated with malabsorption syndromes resulting from an overgrowth of bacteria in the small bowel. Many risk factors exist for the development of SIBO, such as altered anatomy from...
Vitamin B-12 produces and maintains red blood cells, nerve cell function and DNA. It is also used to produce energy by converting proteins and fats into adenosine triphosphate, the molecule that stores energy. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause...
Vitamin B12 shots have erroneously been popularized over the years for boosting energy, speeding metabolism and promoting weight loss. In fact the supplementation of this vitamin will do nothing but cure a deficiency state. The injection form is...
Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile, is a species of bacteria and the most common causative agent for diarrhea in hospitals. It leads to diarrhea, sepsis and death. Antibiotic use is the primary cause of infection, but certain types of...
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an important antioxidant that is not present in regular potatoes. Sweet potatoes can be consumed just like regular potatoes--baked, mashed or as french fries. They present a good way to add more color and...
Probiotics are considered "friendly" intestinal bacteria that can fight against and eliminate bad intestinal bacteria. Candida albicans is considered a yeasty bacterial overgrowth located in your intestines. It can cause symptoms in other areas of...
The special carbohydrate diet, also called the specific carbohydrate diet, is designed to help people with gastrointestinal disorders, autism and yeast infections, according to the health-care and nutrition website RD411.com. Biochemist Elaine...
