How does your metabolism work?

  Metabolism is a chemical process that your body uses to convert your food into fuel that keeps you alive.

How-does-your-metabolism-work?

  Nutrition consists of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.  These substances are broken down by enzymes in your digestive system and then carried to cells where they can be used as fuel.  Your body either uses these substances immediately, or stores them in the liver, body fat, and muscle tissue for later use.


  What is a metabolic disorder? 

A metabolic disorder occurs when the metabolism fails and the body gets too much or too little of the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

What-is-a-metabolic-disorder?

  Our bodies are very sensitive to errors in metabolism.  The body needs amino acids and many types of proteins to perform all its functions.  For example, the brain needs calcium, potassium, and sodium and lipids (fats and oils) to produce electrical electrical disorders to maintain a healthy nervous system.

  Metabolic disorders can take many forms.  It includes:


  •   chemical A missing enzyme or vitamin that is necessary for a major chemical reaction
  •   Abnormal chemical reactions that interfere with metabolic processes
  •   A disease of the liver, pancreas, endocrine glands, or other organs involved in metabolism
  • Nutritional deficiencies

What causes metabolic disorders?

  If some organs, such as the pancreas or the liver, stop working properly, you can develop metabolic disorders.  These disorders can be caused by genetics, a lack of a particular hormone or enzyme, overeating of many foods, or many other factors.

  There are hundreds of genetic metabolic disorders caused by a mutation in one gene.  These changes can be passed down through generations of families.  According to a reliable source from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mutations are more likely to be passed on in certain ethnic or racial groups, especially for congenital disorders.  The most common of these are:

  •   Scale cell anemia in African Americans
  •   Cystic fibrosis in people of European descent
  •   Maple syrup urinary tract disease in non-Mennonite communities
  •   Gocher's disease in the Jewish people of Eastern Europe
  •   the hemochromatosis in the Caucasus in the United States

  Types of metabolic disorders

  Diabetes is the most common metabolic disease.  There are two types of diabetes.

  •   Type 1, the cause of which is unknown, but may be a genetic factor.
  •   Type 2, which can be acquired, or possibly due to genetic factors.

  According to the American Diabetes Association, 30.3 million children and adults, or about 9.4% of the US population, have diabetes.

  In type 1 diabetes, T cells attack and kill the beta cells in the pancreas, the cells that make insulin.  Over time, insulin deficiency can cause:

  •   Nerve and kidney damage
  •    Visual impairment
  •   The risk of heart and vascular disease increases

  Hundreds of birth defects have been identified in metabolism (IEM), and most of them are rare.  However, it is estimated that IEM collectively affects 1 in every 1,000 newborns.  Many of these diseases can be treated simply by limiting the amount of food that the body cannot process.

  The most common types of nutritional and metabolic disorders include:

Gocher's Disease

  This condition causes failure to break down certain types of fat, which accumulate in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.  This instability can result in pain, bone loss and even death.  It is treated with enzyme replacement therapy.


  Glucose galactose malabsorption

  This is a defect in the transport of glucose and galactose in the stomach lining which leads to severe diarrhea and dehydration.  Symptoms are controlled by removing lactose, sucrose and glucose from the diet.


  Hereditary hemochromatosis

  In this condition, too much iron accumulates in many organs, and can cause:


  •    Liver cirrhosis
  •    Liver cancer
  •    Diabetes
  •    Heart disease

  It is treated by permanently removing blood (phlebotomy) from the body.


  Maple Syrup Urinary Tract Disease (MSUD)

  MSUD disrupts the metabolism of certain amino acids, leading to rapid degeneration of neurons.  If left untreated, it can cause death in the first few months after birth.  Treatment involves limiting the intake of branched chain amino acids.


  Phenylctonuria (PKU)

  The PKU enzyme, phenylalanine, causes instability in the production of hydroxylase, which results in organ damage, mental retardation and abnormal posture.  It is treated by restricting it to certain types of protein foods.


  Outlook

  Metabolic disorders are extremely complex and rare.  Nonetheless, they are the subject of ongoing research, helping scientists better understand the root causes of more common problems such as lactose, sucrose and glucose intolerance, and excess of certain proteins.


  If you have a metabolic disorder, you can work with your doctor to find the treatment that is right for you.