Vitamin D is primarily synthesised in the skin on exposure to UV light, although it can be found in relatively low levels in oily fish, eggs and fortified margarine. It has a hormone like action, controlling the absorption of calcium from the intestine and the flux of calcium between the bones and the circulatory system. […]
85% of the phosphorus in the body is housed within the skeleton, although it plays a vital role in the formation of DNA, ATP and the phospholipids that make up cell membranes. The skeletal form of phosphorus is calcium phosphate and provides stiffness and structure to the bone.
The skeleton contains up to 60% of total body magnesium. Magnesium is also essential for muscle contraction, formation of DNA and is a catalyst for many reactions such as the release of energy from ATP. Deficiency of magnesium has been linked to muscle spasms, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Magnesium can be found […]
Iron has vital functions in the body, as a carrier for oxygen (as part of haemoglobin in blood cells and myoglobin in muscle tissue) from the lungs, as a transporter in the ATP generation pathway and as an integral part of many enzyme controlled pathways. There are two types of iron in the diet – […]
Chromium is thought to enhance insulin sensitivity, potentially by increasing the number of insulin receptors or facilitating their interaction with insulin. It has therefore been marketed as a tool for diabetics to increase insulin sensitivity and also as a weight loss aid. However, studies have produced inconsistent results, questioning the essentiality of chromium and its […]
There is 1kg of calcium in the adult skeleton but this is not a static, inactive store. This calcium is in constant flux between the skeleton, kidney and intestine via the blood. This balance is maintained by many hormones, although external factors such as growth, pregnancy or ageing will also affect calcium balance. Calcium is […]
Protein molecules are long chains of constituent amino acids, joined together by ‘peptide’ bonds. There are 20 standard amino acids that can be joined to form proteins. The combination of different amino acids in the chain, along with the relative numbers of each in the protein will determine the overall structure of the protein and […]
• Structural – the most well known and bodybuilding related fate of dietary protein is incorporation into muscle tissue. A diet rich in protein (balanced by adequate amounts of carbohydrate, fat and micronutrients) combined with weight training can result in hypertrophy. Other common structural proteins are: collagen, responsible for giving skin its structure and elasticity […]
While the majority of amino acids are incorporated into protein to fulfil the above functions, some individual amino acids have particular roles in the body, which include: • Glycine is used in the production of creatine (muscle function), haem (oxygen transport and the final part of respiration) and glutathione (a potent antioxidant). While glycine itself […]
The majority of fats in the diet come from triglycerides, which are made up of fatty acids joined by a glycerol backbone. Fatty acids are chains that can vary in length from a few units long to over 20 units in length. Some may be essential, while others can be made from other fatty acids […]
