Overview

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. A compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid functions as vitamin C for some animals but not others, and vitamins D and K are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances.

Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" actually refers to a number of vitamer compounds, which form a set of distinct chemical compounds that show the biological activity of a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A," which (for example) includes retinal, retinol, and many carotenoids. Vitamers are often inter-convertible in the body. The term vitamin does not include other essential nutrients such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids, nor does it encompass the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Albinism - The History of Albinism

Albinism is a rare disease of the skin, where people have little or no pigment melanin left in their skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is a disease that is as old as the medical literature. However, the first ever reported case of albinism that was scientifically came in 1908. Most of the people who are victims of albinism have a long history of being rebuked and ostracized by society. People tend to avoid people suffering from albinism solely on the basis of their outer appearance.

However, albinism has a deep history in connection with her. The people suffer from albinism have always been discriminated against based on their appearance. A large number of books and films have criticised albinism. People used to refer to factors such as the danger of terror and for people with albinism had criminal tendencies.

Albinism as a disease has always been wrong and socialized. Their pale skin and white hair was a foreign concept, it is actually as a way of salvation from their sins, the patients had in their previous birth.

There In addition, a large number of myths and superstitions associated with albinism. The most popular myth about albinism in Zimbabwe is that sex with a woman with albinism can help an HIV-infected people themselves to heal. This ancient myth has meant that a large number of women affected by albinism in the area is raped, and thus as HIV-infected, in the name of cure.

 

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