Nutrition & Metabolism Disorders
Nutrition & Metabolism Disorder Overview
What Is a Metabolic Disorder?
Our bodies are very sensitive to errors in metabolism. The body must have amino acids and many types of proteins to perform all of its functions. For example, the brain needs calcium, potassium and sodium to generate electrical impulses, and lipids (fats and oils) to maintain a healthy nervous system.
Metabolic disorders can take many forms. For instance:
• a missing enzyme or vitamin that is necessary for an important chemical reaction
• abnormal chemical reactions that hinder metabolic processes
• disease in the liver, pancreas, endocrine glands or other organs involved in metabolism
• nutritional deficiencies
What Causes Metabolic Disorders?
There are hundreds of genetic metabolic disorders caused by mutations of single genes. These mutations can be passed down through generations of families. The most common of these are:
• sickle cell anemia in African Americans
• cystic fibrosis in people of European heritage
• maple syrup urine disease in Mennonite communities
• Gaucher’s disease in Jewish people from Eastern Europe
• hemochromatosis in Caucasians in the U.S.
Types of Metabolic Disorders
In type 1 diabetes, the T cells attack and kill beta cells in the pancreas, the cells that produce insulin. Over time, a lack of insulin can cause nerve and kidney damage, eyesight impairment, and increased risk of heart and vascular disease.
Hundreds of inborn errors in metabolism (IEM) have been identified, and most are extremely rare. However, it is estimated that IEM collectively affects 1 in every 1,000 infants. Many of these disorders can only be treated by limiting dietary intake of the substance or substances the body cannot process.
The more common types of nutritional and metabolic disorders include:
Gaucher’s disease: This condition causes an inability to break down a particular kind of fat, which accumulates in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. This inability can result in pain, bone damage and even death. It is treated with enzyme replacement therapy.
Glucose galactose malabsorption: This is a defect in the transport of glucose and galactose across 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, excess iron is deposited in several organs, and can cause liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It is treated by removing blood from the body (phlebotomy) on a regular basis.
Maple syrup urine disease: This condition disrupts the metabolism of certain amino acids, causing rapid degeneration of the neurons. If not treated, it causes death within the first few months after birth. Treatment involves limiting the dietary intake of branched-chain amino acids.
Phenylketonuria (PKU): PKU causes an inability to produce the enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, resulting in organ damage, mental retardation and unusual posture. It is treated by limiting the dietary intake of certain forms of protein.
Metabolic disorders are highly complex and rare. Even so, they are the subject of ongoing research, which is also helping scientists to better understand the underlying causes of more common problems such as lactose, sucrose, and glucose intolerance, and the overabundance of certain proteins.
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