Unit 8: Physiology of Human body systems

C: explore the physiology of the digestive system and the use of

corrective treatment for nutritional deficiency.

Digestive System:

Structure Function

Mouth Where food enters the alimentary canal

and digestion begins

Salivary glands Produce saliva containing amylase

Oesophagus Muscular tube which moves ingested food

to the stomach

Stomach Muscular organ where digestion continues

Pancreas Produces digestive enzymes

Liver Produces bile

Gall bladder Stores bile before releasing it into the

duodenum

Small intestine - duodenum Where food is mixed with digestive

enzymes and bile

Small intestine - ileum Where digested food is absorbed into the

blood and lymph

Large intestine - colon Where water is reabsorbed

Large intestine - rectum Where faeces are stored

Large intestine - anus Where faeces leave the alimentary canal

Digestive disorder:

The digestive disorder I will be evaluating will be is ulcerative colitis. Colitis,

ulcerative colitis, ischemic colitis all cause inflammation and are all examples of
IBD (inflammatory bowel disease).
Ulcerative Colitis affects the top layer of the large intestine in which the inner
lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny open pores or ulcers which
produce pus and mucus. This disease can be an autoimmune condition in people
of a certain genetic makeup.

There are many causes including infection, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.
Ulcerative Colitis may be cause by infection, invasion of the colon wall with
lymphocytes reduces blood supply to the colon.

Nutritional deficiencies this might cause:

If you have ulcerative colitis, you might not get enough of the nutrients your body
needs.

Problems with how your body absorbs nutrients as well as blood loss, diarrhoea,
and medication used to treat the inflammatory bowel disease all can increase the
risk of nutrient deficiency.

There are some nutrition deficiencies which can cause and can increase the risk of
ulcerative colitis.

Magnesium:
People with ulcerative colitis may have a nutritional deficiency in which they may
have magnesium deficiency because this mineral is absorbed in the colon. The
symptoms of this deficiency are: muscle twitching, irritation and poor memory.

Calcium and Vitamin D:

Another deficiency of ulcerative colitis is that low supplies of calcium and vitamin
D are the main vitamin and mineral deficiency in ulcerative colitis.

Iron:
People with ulcerative colitis tend to be low in iron. The reason for this nutrient
deficiency may be blood loss through bloody diarrhoea or internal ulcerations of
the colon or possibly some medications used to treat ulcerative colitis.
The symptoms of iron deficiency include: fatigue, looking pale, etc.

B vitamins:
People with ulcerative colitis may have problems absorbing folic acid or vitamin B
9 and other B vitamins, especially vitamin B12. vitamin B 12 is absorbed in only
one part of the small intestine, right before it hits the colon, known as the ileum.
Ulcerative colitis medications such as cholestyramine and sulfasalazine can
prevent it from being absorbed in this area as well as interfere with folic acid
absorption. Signs of this nutrient deficiency are a lack of energy, balance issues,
pale tongue, and tingling in the fingers and toes. Severe cases may cause
memory loss and disorientation. Treatment will be through eating a diet high in
sources of B vitamins and folate like meat, poultry and eggs to maintain healthy
levels.

Potassium:
Potassium deficiency comes into play with ulcerative colitis because the colon is
the final place where it is absorbed in the body. The colon actually reabsorbs
potassium, and it goes through the bloodstream that way. Symptoms may include
cramping in muscles, irregular heartbeat, or feeling dizzy and fainting. Eating a
diet high in potassium-rich foods, like bananas, cooked leafy green vegetables,
and potatoes, is usually enough to correct a potassium deficiency.

These nutritional deficiencies might affect the health by causing problems to the
rest of the body. By not having a good nutritional diet, different problems could
affect the digestive system anywhere from the mouth to the anus.

Nutritional deficiency How this affects your health?

By having magnesium deficiency, this can
Magnesium result in muscle twitching, irritation and
poor memory.
By having calcium and vitamin d
Calcium and vitamin D deficiency, this can result in
 By having iron deficiency, this can result in
Iron fatigue, looking pale, etc.

By having b vitamins deficiency, this can

B vitamins result in having problems absorbing folic
acid or vitamin B 9 and other B vitamins,
especially vitamin B12.
deficiency are a lack of energy, balance
issues, pale tongue, and tingling in the
fingers and toes
By having potassium deficiency, this can
Potassium result in
Cramping in muscles, irregular heartbeat,
or feeling dizzy and fainting.

SYMPTOMS OF NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY:

The symptoms of a nutritional deficiency depend on which nutrient the body lacks.
However, there are some general symptoms you might experience, including:

pallor (pale skin)

fatigue
weakness in the body
finding it hard to breathe
unusual food cravings
hair loss
tingling and numbness of the joints
menstrual issues
poor concentration
periods of light-headedness
constipation
tiredness
heart palpitations
feeling faint or fainting
depression

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To maintain a healthy balanced diet, there are several types of food (types) we need to
eat.

Food type How does it help? Where do we get

it?

Carbohydrates Provides quick energy. Pasta, cereals and

60% of our diet should potatoes
comprise 'carbs'.

Fats Provides slow energy. Oils, dairy

Unsaturated fats are healthy. Too much 25% of our diet should be products, nuts and
saturated fat from animal products can fat. fish
lead to heart disease.

Protein Builds and repairs Meat, pulses and

muscle. We only need fish
15% of our diet to be
protein.

Vitamins Helps the body work. Fresh fruit and

Helps concentration. vegetables

A - for vision
B - for energy production and stress
reduction
C - to keep skin healthy
D - to help bones and teeth

Minerals Helps release energy from Fruit, vegetables

Food type How does it help? Where do we get
it?

food. Helps decision and fish

making

eg
Calcium - to strengthen bones
Iodine - for energy production
Iron - prevents fatigue

Fibre Can't be digested. Fills Fresh fruit,

you up and keeps you vegetables and
'regular' wholegrain cereals

Water Maintains fluid levels From natural

resources, lakes,
rivers, streams,
etc.
How can ulcerative colitis be treated?

Treatment for Ulcerative colitis depends mainly on how bad the disease is. It generally
includes medicines and changes in diet. Some symptoms are long-lasting and severe and
may require more medicine or surgery.

There may be other problems that need to be treated first like: anaemia or infection. For
treating children and teens could include taking nutritional supplements to restore
normal growth and sexual development.

The main aim for treating ulcerative colitis is to:

Reducing the symptoms, which is also known as inducing remission, i.e. a period
without any symptoms.
To maintain remission
Treatment involves taking medication and/or surgery in some cases.
Treatment may be provided through a variety of healthcare professionals, which could
be:
Specialist doctors gastroenterologists or surgeons
GPs
Specialist nurses
There is a variety of medication that a person could take depending on the case.
The medication could be:
Immunosuppressants
Ciclosporin
Infliximab
Surgery

Medication What it does? Advantages Disadvantages

Corticosteroids, such It helps reduce Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids as prednisolone, are inflammation. aren't used as a
a more powerful long-term
type of medication treatment to
used to reduce maintain remission
inflammation. because they can
cause potentially
serious side
effects, such as
osteoporosis
(weakening of the
bones) and
cataracts (cloudy
patches in the lens
of the eye) when
used for a long
time. Other
disadvantages
include :
Acne
weight gain
increased
appetite
mood
changes
(such as
becoming
 more
irritable)
insomnia
(difficulty
sleeping)

Immunosuppressant Immunosuppressan They often take a

Immunosuppressan s, such as ts can be very while to start
ts tacrolimus, is a effective in treating working (usually
medication that ulcerative colitis. between two and
reduces the activity three months). The
of the immune medicines can
system. make you more
vulnerable to
infection, so it's
important to check
for any signs of
infection, such as
fever or sickness.
They can also
lower the
production of red
blood cells, making
you prone to
anaemia.
Ciclosporin works in It helps reduce a tremor
Ciclosporin the same way as inflammation. (an
other uncontrollab
immunosuppressant le shaking
medications, by or trembling
reducing the activity of part of
of the immune the body)
system. But, it's excessive
more powerful than hair growth
the medications fatigue
used to treat milder (extreme
cases of ulcerative tiredness)
colitis and starts to swollen
work much sooner gums
(normally within a feeling and
few days). being sick
diarrhoea
Ciclosporin can also
cause more serious
problems such as
high blood
pressure and
reduced kidney and
liver function.
Infliximab is given It helps reduce increased
Infliximab as an infusion over inflammation. risk of
the course of one to infection,
two hours. You'll be such as
given further coughs,
infusions after two high
weeks, and again temperature
 after six weeks. or sore
Infusions are then throat,
given every eight vertigo (the
weeks, if treatment sensation
is still required. you or the
environmen
t around
you is
moving)
and
dizziness
an allergy-
like
reaction,
causing
breathing
difficulties,
urticaria
(hives) and
headaches
Infliximab
isn't usually
suitable for
people with
a history of
TB or
hepatitis B
and needs
to be used
with caution
in those
with HIV or
hepatitis C.
This is
because
there have
been a
number of
cases where
infliximab
has
reactivated
inactive
infections.
The
medication
is also not
recommend
ed for
people with
a history of
heart
disease or
multiple
sclerosis.
Surgery for It helps reduce It can be a
Surgery ulcerative colitis inflammation. nuisance to carry
 involves an ileostomy. This
permanently is where the small
removing the colon intestine is diverted
(known as a out of a hole made
colectomy). in your abdomen.
Special bags are
placed over this
opening, to collect
waste materials
after the operation

Food / Reducing Non Starch Lipids Protein Vitamin C

test sugars reducing
sugars
Cheese Solution Solution Solution A white Solution The
remained remained remained cloudy changed solution
blue. blue. yellow. precipitate from clear remained
formed. to mauve. dark blue.
Egg Emulsion, Emulsion, Milky Milky Purple Dark blue
top- layer milky emulsion
brown white
Bread Yellow - Purple White No change Stays Stays
orange black cloudy in the blue, no blue, no
emulsion colour, still colour colour
on top blue. change. change.

There are 6 nutrient groups, carbohydrates, proteins, fat,

vitamins, minerals and water.
Carbohydrates:

Carbohydrates are needed to give the body energy. There are two types of carbohydrate,
starch and sugar.
Starch is found in cereals, cornflour, potatoes, pasta and flour.
Sugar is found in fruit, vegetables, honey, milk and malt products.

Proteins:
Proteins assist with growth and repair of the body.
Proteins are found in animal products like meat, fish, cheese, milk and eggs. Vegetable
sources include soya-bean products, pulses and nuts.

Fat:

Fats help to provide concentrated sources of energy and help to insulate the body in
cold weather. There are two main types.
Saturated fats are usually obtained from animal sources, for example butter and
lard. The exceptions are coconut and palm oils.
Polyunsaturated fats come from vegetable sources, such as sunflower oil.

Vitamins:
Vitamins are needed in very small amounts for growth and health. The main vitamins are
vitamin A, the B complex of vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin D.

Uses and sources of vitamins

Vitamin Need for Sources

Vitamin A - good vision - green and yellow

- healthy skin vegetables
- growth - dairy products

Vitamin B - release of energy - breads

(thiamine, riboflavin from foods - milk
and niacin) - healthy skin - eggs

Vitamin B12 - red blood cells - meat

- milk
- fish

Vitamin C - healthy skin - fruit

- protects cells - vegetables
- helps absorb iron

Vitamin D - helps absorb - margarine

calcium - oily fish
- strong teeth and
bones

Minerals:
Minerals are needed in small amounts to help the body function properly and stay
strong. Calcium and iron are two important minerals.
Calcium:
Calcium is needed for the growth of healthy teeth and bones. Sources of calcium include
milk, cheese, eggs, wholegrain cereals, green vegetables, bread and tofu.
Iron:
Iron is needed for the formation of red blood cells. Sources of iron include red meat,
green vegetables, eggs, lentils and bread.
Other minerals that the body needs include potassium, sodium, magnesium and zinc.

Water:

Water helps to maintain homeostasis in the body and transports nutrients to cells. Water
also assists in removing waste products from the body.

Carbohydrate, protein, and fat are macronutrients because they make up the bulk of
your diet. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients because they are required in much
smaller amounts.
Nutritional deficiencies, known as malnutrition, are the result of your body not getting
enough of the nutrients it needs.

Children are more at risk for serious problems due to nutritional deficiencies than adults.

You can prevent nutritional deficiencies by making sure you get enough nutrients from
your diet. You should talk to your doctor and dietitian to help make any decisions on
dietary changes and before taking any nutritional supplements.
The body requires many different vitamins and minerals that are crucial for both
development and preventing disease. These vitamins and minerals are often referred to
as micronutrients. They arent produced naturally in the body, so you have to get them
from your diet.

A nutritional deficiency is when the body doesnt absorb the necessary amount of a
nutrient. Deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems. These can include
problems of digestion, skin problems, stunted or defective bone growth, and even
dementia.

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Treatments

diseases

carbohydrates

Proteins
Fats

Vitamins
minerals

Calcium
Iron

Water
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