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...
A high-protein diet increases your urinary output because your kidneys are forced to eliminate the ammonia that is a byproduct of protein metabolism. As noted by The Medical Biochemistry Page, ammonia is toxic, so it cannot be allowed to build up....
Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency is a genetic disorder that causes toxic levels of ammonia to develop in a person's bloodstream. This inherited disorder affects approximately one in 800,000 people, according to Genetics Home Reference, a...
Argininosuccinase deficiency, also known as citrullinemia, describes a hereditary disease where citrulline and ammonia build up in the blood. Ammonia is a very toxic substance and when it accumulates in the bloodstream, it can travel to the brain,...
Whether you're experiencing hair loss, thinning hair or just want longer hair, it may seem nearly impossible for your hair to grow at a satisfactory rate. Certain vitamins help keep your skin healthy while others help your hair grow. Before...
Topamax is an anticonvulsant that is used to treat seizures in patients with epilepsy, as well as treat migraine headaches and bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by cycles of manic and depressive episodes...
Which dangerous chemicals are found in smoking is never clear because manufacturers of tobacco products are, at this point, not required to list the ingredients contained in smoking products. However, cigarettes have been thoroughly studied to...
Cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease, occurs when the liver cells become damaged leading to the buildup of scar tissue. Viral hepatitis and excessive alcohol consumption commonly lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis develops slowly over time, often only...
Urine odor can help serve as an indicator for good or poor health. Diet, illness, hydration and physical activity all play a role in the concentration, color and odor of your urine. Generally, if you are healthy and hydrated, the odor of your...
There are two types of kidney failure. Chronic kidney failure occurs over a long period of time. The kidneys gradually lose the ability to filter wastes, toxins and excess fluids from the blood. Chronic kidney failure can be caused by a weakened...
Alcohol abuse and hepatitis C are the most common causes of cirrhosis in the United States. Cirrhosis is the final stage of liver disease and is characterized by severe scarring of the liver tissue. This tissue prevents blood from flowing through...
Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency is a genetic disorder that affects your liver´s ability to convert ammonia into urea. This disorder results from abnormally low levels of the ornithine transcarbamylase enzymes. Individuals with this...
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...
Nitrogen is a chemical element that enters the body through a variety of compounds present in food. It is contained in the amino acids of dietary protein, found in meat, beans and leafy greens and also in purine-rich foods such as organ meats and...
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...
Liver problems can arise for many reasons. Sometimes the problem is genetic. The immune system may attack the liver. Cancers can grow in the liver or metastasize to the liver from other organs. Drugs such as alcohol and high doses of Tylenol can...
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...
Protein of some form is usually seen as the center piece of a healthy diet. However, when an individual is diagnosed with liver or kidney disease, it is often recommended by physicians that they start a low-protein diet. When bacteria in the...
When cocaine is combined with baking soda or ammonia, it becomes crack cocaine. By smoking crack cocaine, users get a quick high that lasts about 15 minutes. People who abuse crack cocaine can have health problems. Some of the problems that arise...
Hepatic encephalopathy is a condition characterized by deterioration in brain function caused by a buildup of blood ammonia resulting from severe liver disease. Symptoms include sleepiness, irritability, agitation, apathy, confusion, inability to...
L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is naturally produced by the body and obtained through diet. Arginine is a building block or chemical unit that makes up protein, which is essential for every living cell in the body. In most people,...
Alcoholism is characterized by physical and psychological dependence on alcohol. Dependency may develop from long-term abuse, and increasing amounts are needed to reach the desired effect. Constant exposure to alcohol alters the sensitivity of...
The urea cycle is a sequence of biochemical reactions that occur inside liver cells. The urea cycle removes excess nitrogen generated from protein breakdown and prevents nitrogen accumulation in the form of ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to cells and...
Defective genes can cause breaks in the metabolic recycling process for purines and pyrimidines, the building blocks of nucleotides. When these molecules are not metabolized properly, any one of several genetic disorders can occur. Symptoms can...
Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, chronic inflammation and type 2 diabetes. Although weight loss pills are an option, they often produce unwanted side effects. L-arginine, also known as arginine, is an amino acid...
Ornithine transcarbamylase, or OTC, deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that occurs in approximately one in every 80,000 births, according to Genetics Home Reference. In OTC deficiency, a defective enzyme results in the inability to effectively...
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,...
Your liver is your largest organ and acts as a storage facility and filter. The liver stores nutrients, including iron, and controls the production of cholesterol. The liver also produces bile to help you digest your food and to allow you body to...
