Metabolic Disorders

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone is a steroid hormone primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females. The adrenal glands also secrete small amounts of the hormone. It is the principal male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid which plays major roles in health and well-being. Libido, energy levels, immune function, protection against osteoporosis and puberty in males are largely due to increased levels of testosterone in the body. In some individuals, however, the production of testosterone is insufficient for the healthy growth and development of the body. In these cases, hormone replacement therapy is used to maintain normal levels of testosterone in the body.

Urea Cycle Disorder

An urea cycle disorder or urea cycle defect is a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes in the urea cycle which is responsible for removing ammonia from the blood stream. The urea cycle involves a series of biochemical steps in which nitrogen, a waste product of protein metabolism, is removed from the blood and converted to urea. Normally, the urea is transferred into the urine and removed from the body. In urea cycle disorders, the nitrogen accumulates in the form of ammonia, a highly toxic substance and is not removed from the body. Ammonia then reaches the brain through the blood, where it causes irreversible brain damage and/or death.

Vitamin Deficiency

The human body needs vitamins — nutrients found in most foods — for many reasons, including producing healthy red blood cells. If the body is deficient in certain key vitamins, it can develop a type of anemia — a condition in which the blood is low on healthy red blood cells — called vitamin deficiency anemia.

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Without enough healthy red blood cells, the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to feel energized. To produce red blood cells, the body needs iron and certain vitamins along with adequate protein and calorie intake. Vitamin deficiency anemia can also lead to other health problems. Fortunately, vitamin deficiency anemia can be corrected with supplements and dietary changes.