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Vitamin Glossary
"L"
- lactose intolerant-
an intolerance to milk and some dairy products,
characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms.
- laxative- a substance
which promotes bowel movements. Laxatives are divided into
those that work by providing bulk, those that stimulate
the production of bile
in the liver and its release from the gallbladder, and
those which directly trigger peristalsis.
- L-Dopa- a natural amino acid
precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
- lesion- an injury, wound, or
single infected patch in a skin disease.
- leukocytosis- an
increased white blood cell count, usually caused by the
presence of an infection.
- leukosis- abnormal growth
of white blood cells.
- ligament- a band of
fibrous connective tissue connecting bone, cartilage,
and other structures and serving as support for muscles to
facilitate or limit motion.
- limbic system- a
group of brain structures that influences the endocrine
and autonomic motor systems.
- lipofuscin- a
yellow-brown pigmented waste material deposited in many
nerve and skin cells, where it is believed to interfere
with cellular metabolism. Lipofuscin is made up of
cross-linked, peroxidized lipids and cross-linked
proteins. Lipofuscin deposits in skin are colloquially
called "age spots" or "liver spots".
- lipopigments- aging
pigments: lipofuscin, ceroid, and amyloid.
- lipoproteins- proteins
composed of a simple protein and a fat component that
carry fats in the blood.
- lymphatic system-
a system of vessels and nodes throughout the body which
carry the lymph fluid and help to remove toxins from the
body.
- lymphocyte- type of
white blood cell which arises in lymph glands, spleen,
thymus, or marrow.
- lysosomes- special
digestive structures in cells, containing powerful
tissue-dissolving enzymes and subsequent tissue damage.
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