The liver plays a vital role in most metabolic processes. One of these processes is the detoxification of ammonia in the blood. Ammonia is a by-product of normal protein metabolism and is also created by bacteria in the intestines. When the liver...
A diseased liver cannot detoxify protein metabolites, such as ammonia, leading to increased levels in the blood. Liver damage prevents use of metabolites in your body because the liver is unable to filter, convert or utilize end-products. Ammonia,...
Broadly, hemochromatosis is a disease of iron overload. Oftentimes, the word hemochromatosis refers to hemochromatosis type I, which is an inherited condition of iron overload. Despite the cause, the excessive iron in the body deposits in the...
Citrulline can be obtained from supplements or from foods. Nobel Prize recipient, Professor Louis Ignarro says that when the amino acids -- citrulline and arginine -- are combined, our body's cells are encouraged to produce a beneficial gas called...
Citrulline is classified as an essential amino acid. Your body converts citrulline to arginine and then to nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is beneficial to the body because it promotes optimal blood flow, assists with mental and physical fatigue and...
One of the unpleasant side effects of vigorous exercise is body odor. When you sweat, bacteria on your skin naturally produce that familiar locker room aroma. But during prolonged exercise, you may notice an acid or ammonia odor that is different...
Ammonia is produced when proteins are broken down in the intestines. If the liver is unable to effectively metabolize the ammonia, the levels rise in the blood. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry explains that the increased blood...
Ornithine is an amino acid derived from another amino acid called arginine, during the urea cycle. Amino acids are known for being building blocks of protein, however ornithine is not a protein constituent. Your liver produces ornithine when it...
Ammonia is a byproduct of the metabolism of protein. Biochemical reactions in your body rapidly convert ammonia into less harmful molecules under normal conditions. Liver disease can cause ammonia levels to build up in your body. Your brain is...
Ammonia is a toxic by-product that results when the body breaks down proteins. A healthy person's liver converts ammonia into urea, a nonpoisonous substance excreted in urine. Several conditions and disorders that afflict children disrupt this...
In a 2006 article published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," researchers noted that 3.9 million people living in the United States had positive blood tests for hepatitis C. Approximately 2.7 million of those people were sick with chronic...
Your body's waste reflects changes in health, lifestyle and diet. The odor, color and consistency of your urine reflect your nutrient intake and the health of your kidneys and liver. Significant changes in available nutrients cause changes in your...
Glutamine is an amino acid that your body makes on its own. Using a glutamine supplement may be helpful when you have certain medical conditions such as surgery, an infection or prolonged stress because your glutamine levels may become depleted....
Ammonia is a by-product of the breakdown of protein. One function of the liver is to take potentially toxic substances and make them inert, so the body can remove them. When ammonia enters the blood, the liver filters it out and combines it with...
Amino acids have several vital functions in the human body. They build proteins and lead to the formation of substances used by the nerves, red blood cells and DNA. Most of them can be made by the cells, but some have to be obtained from the diet....
Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of chronic liver disease when normal liver cells have been injured and non-functioning scar tissue has formed. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that Hepatitis C infection and chronic alcohol...
The liver is an important organ located in the right upper portion of the abdomen. It is also the largest gland in the body. It is a gland because it secretes bile. The liver detoxifies the body of ingested drugs, harmful chemicals and alcohol. It...
Sometimes, people who are undernourished may not be able to eat or, when they try, find eating is difficult. Even if they have someone to help them eat, try to eat just a small amount at a time or eat food that has a lot of flavor, they may still...
Blood ammonia comes primarily from the bacterial breakdown of unabsorbed dietary protein in the intestine. Intestinal ammonia passes into the bloodstream and travels to the liver, which converts ammonia into urea. Urea subsequently passes from the...
Glutamic acid is an amino acid that is biosynthesized within the body from amino acids such as arginine and ornithine. Its main function is to maintain the health of the brain while helping the body to build proteins, according to Diet and Fitness...
Liver cirrhosis refers to the end stage of chronic liver disease where continuous damage to normal liver tissue has resulted in the formation of scar tissue. Often individuals with mild to moderate liver cirrhosis exhibit no symptoms. If the...
The liver has many functions in the body, including filtering the blood, processing food, drugs and toxins, adding proteins to the blood and making bile to help digest food. Cancer can damage liver function, for example, by infiltrating normal...
A liver function test is a blood test used to determine any disease, damage or impact on the liver. The health of the hepatic, or liver, system is reflected in this panel of tests that include clotting abilities, liver enzymes and bilirubin...
The liver and kidneys remove toxins from the body, which is one of the body's most significant jobs. Toxins are prevalent in the world, and the cleansing organs may be overburdened. The liver works by combining the body's toxins with enzymes and...
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) has the potential to infect the liver and cause chronic damage and inflammation. Over time, this has the potential to result in a condition known as cirrhosis, which is characterized by replacement of normal liver...
The liver is responsible for a diverse range of activities that affect many body systems. As a result, when liver function becomes impaired, symptoms can be equally diffuse, and include many things, from digestive disorders to emotional...
The liver is a large organ located on the upper right side of the abdomen. It is responsible for many things including detoxifying chemicals ingested in food, storing sugar for use in the body, making proteins, helping the blood to clot correctly,...
Physicians typically recommend a low-protein diet for people with liver or kidney disease. Your doctor might advise a low-protein diet if consuming normal amounts of protein-rich foods puts too much stress on your body. For healthy people, a...
The liver is responsible for the elimination of bacteria from the blood and the excretion of drugs. It also stores vitamins A, D, E and K and minerals including copper and iron. When the body is in need of glucose, the liver can convert glycogen...
