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IV Glossary

B1, B2

For healthy skin and hair. It assists in the balancing sodium and potassium levels in the body as well as promoting red blood cell production. It may also help balance hormonal changes in women and aid the immune system.

 

B3

May help lower cholesterol, ease arthritis and boost brain function. Acts as an antioxidant and plays a role in cell signalling and DNA repair.

 

B5

Helps to increase serum zinc levels and the production of protein rich tissues which form part of healthy hair skin and nails.

 

B6

Like other B vitamins, B6 plays an important role in converting food into energy, and helping the body metabolise fats and proteins. B vitamins are important for healthy hair, skin and eyes. As well as contributing to the regulation of mood and sleep patterns.

 

B12

Vitamin B12 has many roles in your body. It supports the normal function of your nerve cells and is needed for red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis.

It helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and is needed to convert carbohydrates into glucose in the body leading to energy production and a decrease in lethargy.

Appropriate vitamin B12 levels are key to a healthy pregnancy. They are important for the prevention of brain and spinal cord birth defects.

It is needed to produce serotonin, a chemical responsible for regulating mood. Vitamin B12 supplements may help improve mood in people with an existing deficiency.

Healthy vitamin B12 levels are important for maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. 

 

Lysine

Lysine is a building block for protein, an essential amino acid and is supportive in muscle development.

It also facilitates the absorption of calcium in the gut therefore may be useful when considering prevention of osteoporosis.

Lysine may help reduce feelings of anxiety and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in some people. 

It is essential for the formation of collagen, an essential protein that affects wound repair. Studies indicate that lysine may accelerate wound healing and reduce recovery time.

 

Cystine

Essential for making the powerful antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, it helps neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues in your body.

Cysteine also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with detoxification to prevent or diminish kidney and liver Damage.

 

Ornithine

Ornithine increases endurance and accelerates recovery after exercise and is said to promote wound healing.

L-ornithine has an anti-fatigue effect in increasing the efficiency of energy consumption and promoting the excretion of ammonia

 

Taurine

Taurine plays a role in maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance in your cells, forming bile salts, which play an important role in digestion. It regulates minerals such as calcium within your cells. Supporting the general function of your central nervous system and eyes. Regulating immune system health and antioxidant function.

Taurine plays several important roles in your muscles and may enhance various aspects of physical performance by reducing fatigue, increasing fat burning and decreasing muscle damage.

 

Galactose

Galactose is a simple sugar that is normally transformed in the liver before being used up as energy. This sugar is quite abundant in human diets and helps in several functions. As galactose is a precursor to glucose production, it is an important energy-providing nutrient.

 

Methionine

Methionine is an amino acid that produces several important molecules in your body. These molecules are essential for the proper functioning of your cells.

It contains sulphur and can produce other sulphur-containing molecules in the body which is known to support detoxification. It is also involved in initiating protein production in your cells.

 

Arginine

What Are Arginine’s Heart Benefits? In the body, the amino acid arginine converts into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and improves circulation. Some evidence suggests that arginine may help improve blood flow in the arteries of the heart

 

Glycine

Glycine helps your body produce glutathione an important antioxidant that protects your body against cell damage.

Glycine is a component of creatine a compound that provides your muscles with energy and has been associated with other health benefits such as improved bone health and brain function.

It is the most abundant amino acid in collagen a structural protein that has several health benefits, including for your skin, joints and bones.

 

Carnitine

L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative that transports fatty acids into your cells to be processed for energy. It helps with weight management by enhancing the rate in which the body uses fatty acids. This furthermore increases the fat calories the body uses daily, thus deceasing the amount being stored on your hips, waist as well as other areas of the body.

L-carnitine may aid exercise performance, support the immune system, reduce stress and improve health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

 

Carnosine

Antioxidant compounds like carnosine are crucial for fighting back against the signs of aging. Carnosine is known to impact skin appearance and premature aging through its antioxidant activities, minimizing the impact of free radicals, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and helping to reduce scars, blemishes and age spots. 

One of the components of this molecule is beta-alanine which is well known in the bodybuilding world for its ability to improve endurance and boost muscle growth and development. As a result, l-carnosine is often used by professional athletes and weightlifters.

Carnosine method of action during exercise:

Glucose is broken down: Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose which is the main source of fuel during high-intensity exercise.

Lactate is produced: As you exercise, your muscles break glucose down into lactic acid. This is converted into lactate which produces hydrogen ions (H+).

Muscles become more acidic: The hydrogen ions reduce the pH level in your muscles making them more acidic.

Fatigue sets in: Muscle acidity blocks glucose breakdown and reduces your muscles’ ability to contract. This causes fatigue.

Carnosine buffer: Carnosine serves as a buffer against the acid, thus reducing the acidity in muscles during high-intensity exercise.

Since beta-alanine supplements increase carnosine levels, they help your muscles reduce their acid levels during exercise. This lessens overall fatigue.

 

Magnesium DL Hydrogen Aspartate

Magnesium is a mineral that supports hundreds of chemical reactions in your body. However, many people get less than they need.

During exercise, you may need 10–20% more magnesium than when you’re resting, depending on the activity. Magnesium helps deliver blood sugar into your muscles and dispose of lactic acid which can accumulate in muscles during exercise and cause pain.

Studies have shown that supplementing with it can boost exercise performance for athletes, the elderly and people with chronic disease.

 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, meaning it can’t be produced by the body. Nevertheless, it has many roles in your body and has been linked to impressive health benefits.

It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale and spinach.

Being a strong antioxidant, it can boost your blood antioxidant levels. This may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

Vitamin C supplements have been found to lower blood pressure in both healthy adults and adults with existing high blood pressure. It is said to improve the absorption of iron that is poorly absorbed, such as iron from meat-free sources. It may also reduce the risk of iron deficiency.

Vitamin C may boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening your skin’s defence system and helping wounds heal fast.

 

Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride breaks down into calcium and chloride ions in your body. Calcium is important physiologically for healthy nerves, muscles and bones. A lack of calcium can reduce the signals travelling from your brain to your muscles. As a result, muscles can become weak and your heart may beat irregularly. Chloride ions regulate the pH balance of the blood and help to control your body fluid levels. Calcium chloride is an electrolyte added to sports drinks to replenish the minerals you lose through sweating. Dehydration can lead to chloride loss. Electrolytes are minerals with an electrical charge and are vital to functions in your body.

 

Potassium Chloride

It is often considered an essential nutrient that plays an important role in maintaining brain function at a normal level. High levels of potassium allow more oxygen to reach the brain, thereby stimulating neural activity and increasing cognitive function. There is a good reason why people call bananas brain food; they contain impressively high levels of this mineral.

Potassium Stabilizes Blood Sugar and maintains optimal muscle and nerve function.

One of the useful benefits of potassium is its role in ensuring the proper growth of muscle tissues and the utilization of energy released during metabolism, which adds significantly to muscular strength.

Stimulating cell growth and providing the metabolic energy to do so is a vital function of potassium and muscular health would be compromised without it. Without the contraction and relaxation that potassium allows muscles to perform, exercise and additional muscle training would be impossible.

Potassium assists in the metabolic processing of various nutrients such as fats and carbohydrates. It is of a great value in extracting energy from the nutrients that are consumed. Detailed studies conducted in Denmark have shown that this mineral is also an integral part of the synthesis of protein which has an impact on tissue regeneration, cell growth and overall balanced metabolism.

 

Biotin

Also known as vitamin H, biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that help the body convert food into energy.

The word “biotin” comes from the ancient Greek word “biotos,” which means “life”.  B-vitamins, and specifically biotin, help keep your skin, hair, eyes, liver, and nervous system healthy. Biotin is also a crucial nutrient during pregnancy, as it’s important for embryonic growth.

 

Alanine

Beta-alanine is a popular supplement among athletes and fitness enthusiasts as it has been shown to enhance performance and benefit overall health.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. Your body uses it to produce carnosine which reduces the acidity in your muscles during high-intensity exercise and helps improve exercise performance.

*see Carnosine.

 

Histidine

Histidine is required for the growth and repair of tissues, red blood cell production, and protecting tissues from damage from radiation and heavy metals. 

It is also a major component (along with β-alanine) of carnosine, an important antioxidant that slows the progression of multiple degenerative diseases and reduces plaque build-up in the arteries. It may also help improve muscle performance for high-intensity exercise 

 

Isoleucine /Leucine /Valine

Isoleucine is an amino acid that is best known for its ability to increase endurance and help heal and repair muscle tissue and encourage clotting at the site of injury. This amino acid is especially important to serious athletes and body builders because its primary function in the body is to boost energy and help the body recover from strenuous physical activity. Isoleucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA). There are three branched-chain amino acids in the body, isoleucine, valine, and leucine, and all of them help promote muscle recovery after exercise. Isoleucine is broken down for energy within the muscle tissue. Is also keeps energy levels stable by helping to regulate blood sugar.

 

Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine can be converted to the amino acid tyrosine, which is then used to produce important signalling molecules. These molecules are involved in aspects of your body’s normal functioning, including your mood and stress responses

 

Proline

Helps heal wounds and repair skin, supports digestive health, helps prevent joint pain, supports the cardiovascular system, contributes to a healthy metabolism and fights inflammation.

 

Serine

Serine is a non-essential amino acid that comes from another amino acid called glycine. It is said to boost overall good health, both mental and physical

 

Threonine

Threonine is good for the central nervous system and the muscular system. It is a precursor to both serine and glycine, which are other amino acids that are necessary for muscle tissue production.

Threonine is good for the immune system. It boosts the function of the endocrine gland. It is needed for proper tissue build-up, maintenance and repair. It is also essential for the metabolism of bone muscle in the body.

 

Tryptophan,

Mood support.

 

Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid that the body produces from phenylalanine. Supplementing with it is thought to increase important brain chemicals which affect your mood and stress response

 

Zinc.

Zinc has an ability to boost immune function and fight inflammation. It is well known for its role in blood sugar control and insulin secretion. Some research suggests that zinc may help keep blood sugar levels steady and improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Zinc supplements are often used to promote skin health and treat common skin conditions such as acne.

 

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a stable artificial form of vitamin B9.

It’s not found naturally in food but often added to processed foods and used in multivitamin-mineral supplements.

Adequate vitamin B9 intake has been linked to positive health outcomes such as a reduced risk of neural tube birth defects, cancer prevention and lower homocysteine levels. However, some of these effects are not yet fully understood or confirmed.

IV Glossary

B1, B2

For healthy skin and hair. It assists in the balancing sodium and potassium levels in the body as well as promoting red blood cell production. It may also help balance hormonal changes in women and aid the immune system.

 

B3

May help lower cholesterol, ease arthritis and boost brain function. Acts as an antioxidant and plays a role in cell signalling and DNA repair.

 

B5

Helps to increase serum zinc levels and the production of protein rich tissues which form part of healthy hair skin and nails.

 

B6

Like other B vitamins, B6 plays an important role in converting food into energy, and helping the body metabolise fats and proteins. B vitamins are important for healthy hair, skin and eyes. As well as contributing to the regulation of mood and sleep patterns.

 

B12

Vitamin B12 has many roles in your body. It supports the normal function of your nerve cells and is needed for red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis.

It helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and is needed to convert carbohydrates into glucose in the body leading to energy production and a decrease in lethargy.

Appropriate vitamin B12 levels are key to a healthy pregnancy. They are important for the prevention of brain and spinal cord birth defects.

It is needed to produce serotonin, a chemical responsible for regulating mood. Vitamin B12 supplements may help improve mood in people with an existing deficiency.

Healthy vitamin B12 levels are important for maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. 

 

Lysine

Lysine is a building block for protein, an essential amino acid and is supportive in muscle development.

It also facilitates the absorption of calcium in the gut therefore may be useful when considering prevention of osteoporosis.

Lysine may help reduce feelings of anxiety and reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol in some people. 

It is essential for the formation of collagen, an essential protein that affects wound repair. Studies indicate that lysine may accelerate wound healing and reduce recovery time.

 

Cystine

Essential for making the powerful antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione is one of the body’s most important antioxidants, it helps neutralize free radicals that can damage cells and tissues in your body.

Cysteine also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps with detoxification to prevent or diminish kidney and liver Damage.

 

Ornithine

Ornithine increases endurance and accelerates recovery after exercise and is said to promote wound healing.

L-ornithine has an anti-fatigue effect in increasing the efficiency of energy consumption and promoting the excretion of ammonia

 

Taurine

Taurine plays a role in maintaining proper hydration and electrolyte balance in your cells, forming bile salts, which play an important role in digestion. It regulates minerals such as calcium within your cells. Supporting the general function of your central nervous system and eyes. Regulating immune system health and antioxidant function.

Taurine plays several important roles in your muscles and may enhance various aspects of physical performance by reducing fatigue, increasing fat burning and decreasing muscle damage.

 

Galactose

Galactose is a simple sugar that is normally transformed in the liver before being used up as energy. This sugar is quite abundant in human diets and helps in several functions. As galactose is a precursor to glucose production, it is an important energy-providing nutrient.

 

Methionine

Methionine is an amino acid that produces several important molecules in your body. These molecules are essential for the proper functioning of your cells.

It contains sulphur and can produce other sulphur-containing molecules in the body which is known to support detoxification. It is also involved in initiating protein production in your cells.

 

Arginine

What Are Arginine’s Heart Benefits? In the body, the amino acid arginine converts into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and improves circulation. Some evidence suggests that arginine may help improve blood flow in the arteries of the heart

 

Glycine

Glycine helps your body produce glutathione an important antioxidant that protects your body against cell damage.

Glycine is a component of creatine a compound that provides your muscles with energy and has been associated with other health benefits such as improved bone health and brain function.

It is the most abundant amino acid in collagen a structural protein that has several health benefits, including for your skin, joints and bones.

 

Carnitine

L-carnitine is an amino acid derivative that transports fatty acids into your cells to be processed for energy. It helps with weight management by enhancing the rate in which the body uses fatty acids. This furthermore increases the fat calories the body uses daily, thus deceasing the amount being stored on your hips, waist as well as other areas of the body.

L-carnitine may aid exercise performance, support the immune system, reduce stress and improve health conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

 

Carnosine

Antioxidant compounds like carnosine are crucial for fighting back against the signs of aging. Carnosine is known to impact skin appearance and premature aging through its antioxidant activities, minimizing the impact of free radicals, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and helping to reduce scars, blemishes and age spots. 

One of the components of this molecule is beta-alanine which is well known in the bodybuilding world for its ability to improve endurance and boost muscle growth and development. As a result, l-carnosine is often used by professional athletes and weightlifters.

Carnosine method of action during exercise:

Glucose is broken down: Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose which is the main source of fuel during high-intensity exercise.

Lactate is produced: As you exercise, your muscles break glucose down into lactic acid. This is converted into lactate which produces hydrogen ions (H+).

Muscles become more acidic: The hydrogen ions reduce the pH level in your muscles making them more acidic.

Fatigue sets in: Muscle acidity blocks glucose breakdown and reduces your muscles’ ability to contract. This causes fatigue.

Carnosine buffer: Carnosine serves as a buffer against the acid, thus reducing the acidity in muscles during high-intensity exercise.

Since beta-alanine supplements increase carnosine levels, they help your muscles reduce their acid levels during exercise. This lessens overall fatigue.

 

Magnesium DL Hydrogen Aspartate

Magnesium is a mineral that supports hundreds of chemical reactions in your body. However, many people get less than they need.

During exercise, you may need 10–20% more magnesium than when you’re resting, depending on the activity. Magnesium helps deliver blood sugar into your muscles and dispose of lactic acid which can accumulate in muscles during exercise and cause pain.

Studies have shown that supplementing with it can boost exercise performance for athletes, the elderly and people with chronic disease.

 

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, meaning it can’t be produced by the body. Nevertheless, it has many roles in your body and has been linked to impressive health benefits.

It is water-soluble and found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale and spinach.

Being a strong antioxidant, it can boost your blood antioxidant levels. This may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.

Vitamin C supplements have been found to lower blood pressure in both healthy adults and adults with existing high blood pressure. It is said to improve the absorption of iron that is poorly absorbed, such as iron from meat-free sources. It may also reduce the risk of iron deficiency.

Vitamin C may boost immunity by helping white blood cells function more effectively, strengthening your skin’s defence system and helping wounds heal fast.

 

Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride breaks down into calcium and chloride ions in your body. Calcium is important physiologically for healthy nerves, muscles and bones. A lack of calcium can reduce the signals travelling from your brain to your muscles. As a result, muscles can become weak and your heart may beat irregularly. Chloride ions regulate the pH balance of the blood and help to control your body fluid levels. Calcium chloride is an electrolyte added to sports drinks to replenish the minerals you lose through sweating. Dehydration can lead to chloride loss. Electrolytes are minerals with an electrical charge and are vital to functions in your body.

 

Potassium Chloride

It is often considered an essential nutrient that plays an important role in maintaining brain function at a normal level. High levels of potassium allow more oxygen to reach the brain, thereby stimulating neural activity and increasing cognitive function. There is a good reason why people call bananas brain food; they contain impressively high levels of this mineral.

Potassium Stabilizes Blood Sugar and maintains optimal muscle and nerve function.

One of the useful benefits of potassium is its role in ensuring the proper growth of muscle tissues and the utilization of energy released during metabolism, which adds significantly to muscular strength.

Stimulating cell growth and providing the metabolic energy to do so is a vital function of potassium and muscular health would be compromised without it. Without the contraction and relaxation that potassium allows muscles to perform, exercise and additional muscle training would be impossible.

Potassium assists in the metabolic processing of various nutrients such as fats and carbohydrates. It is of a great value in extracting energy from the nutrients that are consumed. Detailed studies conducted in Denmark have shown that this mineral is also an integral part of the synthesis of protein which has an impact on tissue regeneration, cell growth and overall balanced metabolism.

 

Biotin

Also known as vitamin H, biotin is one of the B complex vitamins that help the body convert food into energy.

The word “biotin” comes from the ancient Greek word “biotos,” which means “life”.  B-vitamins, and specifically biotin, help keep your skin, hair, eyes, liver, and nervous system healthy. Biotin is also a crucial nutrient during pregnancy, as it’s important for embryonic growth.

 

Alanine

Beta-alanine is a popular supplement among athletes and fitness enthusiasts as it has been shown to enhance performance and benefit overall health.

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid. Your body uses it to produce carnosine which reduces the acidity in your muscles during high-intensity exercise and helps improve exercise performance.

*see Carnosine.

 

Histidine

Histidine is required for the growth and repair of tissues, red blood cell production, and protecting tissues from damage from radiation and heavy metals. 

It is also a major component (along with β-alanine) of carnosine, an important antioxidant that slows the progression of multiple degenerative diseases and reduces plaque build-up in the arteries. It may also help improve muscle performance for high-intensity exercise 

 

Isoleucine /Leucine /Valine

Isoleucine is an amino acid that is best known for its ability to increase endurance and help heal and repair muscle tissue and encourage clotting at the site of injury. This amino acid is especially important to serious athletes and body builders because its primary function in the body is to boost energy and help the body recover from strenuous physical activity. Isoleucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA). There are three branched-chain amino acids in the body, isoleucine, valine, and leucine, and all of them help promote muscle recovery after exercise. Isoleucine is broken down for energy within the muscle tissue. Is also keeps energy levels stable by helping to regulate blood sugar.

 

Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine can be converted to the amino acid tyrosine, which is then used to produce important signalling molecules. These molecules are involved in aspects of your body’s normal functioning, including your mood and stress responses

 

Proline

Helps heal wounds and repair skin, supports digestive health, helps prevent joint pain, supports the cardiovascular system, contributes to a healthy metabolism and fights inflammation.

 

Serine

Serine is a non-essential amino acid that comes from another amino acid called glycine. It is said to boost overall good health, both mental and physical

 

Threonine

Threonine is good for the central nervous system and the muscular system. It is a precursor to both serine and glycine, which are other amino acids that are necessary for muscle tissue production.

Threonine is good for the immune system. It boosts the function of the endocrine gland. It is needed for proper tissue build-up, maintenance and repair. It is also essential for the metabolism of bone muscle in the body.

 

Tryptophan,

Mood support.

 

Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid that the body produces from phenylalanine. Supplementing with it is thought to increase important brain chemicals which affect your mood and stress response

 

Zinc.

Zinc has an ability to boost immune function and fight inflammation. It is well known for its role in blood sugar control and insulin secretion. Some research suggests that zinc may help keep blood sugar levels steady and improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

Zinc supplements are often used to promote skin health and treat common skin conditions such as acne.

 

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a stable artificial form of vitamin B9.

It’s not found naturally in food but often added to processed foods and used in multivitamin-mineral supplements.

Adequate vitamin B9 intake has been linked to positive health outcomes such as a reduced risk of neural tube birth defects, cancer prevention and lower homocysteine levels. However, some of these effects are not yet fully understood or confirmed.