Digestive system, carbohydrate metabolism

The medicinal and ceremonial uses of cocaine via coca leaves can be traced back over 4,000 years to pre-Columbian times. It continues to be used legally and is part of the daily culture of South American Indians. Coca leaves are chewed to combat fatigue and to ward off hunger. They are also used to alleviate problems of the larynx, digestive system, metabolism of carbohydrates, vertigo, altitude sickness, and for psychological ills. 

Application in nutritional technology often resembles pharmacokinetic studies in clinical work. The aims of such studies can also be considered to be quite similar, i.e., to investigate the fate of food substances in the digestive system and to ensure that no unacceptable effects are present. For example carbon-14 ( " C) can be used in studying metabolic effects related to food carbohydrates. Another application of the tracer technique is determining the origin of the food substance, e.g., the species of meat can be identified by RIA. 

Vitamins are a well-known group of compounds that are essential for human health. Water-soluble vitamins include folate (vitamin B9) to create DNA. Folate also plays an important role in preventing birth defects during early pregnancy. Thiamine is the first vitamin of the B-complex (vitamin Bl) that researchers discovered. It allows the body to break down alcohol and metabolize carbohydrates and amino acids. Like many other B vitamins, riboflavin (vitamin B2) helps the body to metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Niacin (vitamin B3) protects the health of skin cells and keeps the digestive system functioning properly. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and biotin allow the body to obtain energy from macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) acts as a coenzyme, which means it helps chemical reactions to take place. It also plays a vital role in the creation of nonessential amino acids. 

Niacin plays a number of essential roles in the body. It is necessary for cell respiration metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates the release of energy from foods the secretion of digestive enzymes the synthesis of sex hormones and the proper functioning of the nervous system. It is also involved in the production of serotonin, an essential... 

Thiamine is a coenzyme needed for a number of essential biochemical reactions in the body. A coenzyme is a chemical compound that works along with an enzyme to increase the rate at which chemical reactions take place. Without enzymes and coenzymes in the body, many chemical reactions would take place so slowly that normal bodily functions could not continue. Thiamine is involved in chemical reactions by which blood is produced and circulated through the body, carbohydrates are metabolized, digestive enzymes are produced, and the nervous system is maintained. 

Aggravation of disorders of metabolism—When people obtain their nourishment via the digestive tract the absorbed nutrients are conveyed by the portal system of blood vessels to the liver, where excess sugars are converted into fats and glycogen (a complex carbohydrate that is stored in the liver and muscles), fats are combined with proteins for safe transport in the blood, and amino acids are converted into proteins and waste products such as urea. 

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