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Month: December 2024

How Do Vitamin Supplements Work in the Body?

Many of the foods we eat naturally contain vitamins and other nutrients, while others are fortified, such as milk with added vitamin D. Still, some people may lack certain essential vitamins due to their diet, age, gender, genetics or other factors. To compensate, many take vitamin supplements, including multivitamins that deliver a variety of vitamins and minerals in every dose. 

How do vitamin supplements work in the body? Let’s explore this topic and examine the ongoing controversy surrounding supplement efficacy within medical and scientific communities. 

Vitamin Supplements: The Journey From Ingestion to Absorption 

Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how vitamins travel through the human body: 

  1. You swallow the vitamin supplement, and it moves down the esophagus to the stomach. 
  2. In the stomach, digestion begins. Digestive acids and enzymes begin to dissolve the supplement, but it’s not fully digested here.
  3. The remaining portion travels to the small intestine, where it’s further broken down by digestive enzymes and fluids from the liver and pancreas.
  4. In the second and third parts of the small intestine, nutrients from the digested supplement are absorbed into the intestinal lining. From here, the method of entry into the bloodstream depends on the type of vitamin:
    • Water-soluble vitamins (B and C) are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
    • Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) must be broken down by bile acids before being absorbed. These are then absorbed by the lymphatic system and transported into the bloodstream.
  5. The bloodstream carries the beneficial portions of the vitamin to various cells and tissues in the body.
  6. Excess water-soluble vitamins and their byproducts exit the body through urine, while remaining fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues for later use.

The Role of Vitamins in Our Bodies 

Vitamins play crucial roles throughout the body, aiding each organ, tissue and cell in different ways. They help: 

  • Fight infections 
  • Improve vision 
  • Build strong bones and muscles 
  • Regulate hormones  

Many cells in our bodies, from skin to bone, regenerate regularly to replace old and damaged ones. For example, the outer layer of our skin cells renews about once a month. This regeneration process requires vitamins, whether obtained from food or supplements, making them essential to the normal, healthy functioning of the body. 

Vitamin Supplements: The Controversy  

While taking vitamin supplements may seem beneficial, many experts argue that vitamins in supplement form provide little to no health value compared to those obtained through food. Some point to scant evidence that supplements prevent or cure any major diseases. 

Others contend that the body does absorb beneficial vitamins from supplements but eliminates excess amounts through urination — a potentially favorable scenario. Most experts agree that the best way to obtain vitamins is through a nutrient-rich diet rather than supplements.  

Fortify Your Career Prospects With a Master of Science From UF 

Vitamins, drugs and other compounds can profoundly impact the major human body systems. We examine their beneficial and detrimental effects in the University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology, offered through our College of Medicine.  

Built around an MCAT-aligned curriculum, our 30-credit MS program prepares you for medical school or nursing school admission and a variety of rewarding careers in medicine, science, pharmacy and research. 

  • Earn your master’s degree entirely online — no campus or lab visits required. 
  • Get started with no GRE requirement. 
  • Complete coursework at your own pace from practically any location. 
  • Maintain your professional commitments. 
  • Transfer up to 15 credits from a qualifying UF graduate certificate program.  
  • Finish your degree in as little as two semesters.

Choose UF Quality 

UF and its College of Medicine are recognized for their exceptional quality: 

 Add a respected master’s degree to your career credentials. Apply today!  

Sources:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/WYNTK-Consumer/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/is-there-really-any-benefit-to-multivitamins
https://www.prevention.com/life/a20474960/how-to-make-sure-youre-benefiting-from-your-vitamins/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/which-vitamins-should-you-take
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/7041-digestive-system
https://time.com/6171584/are-vitamins-supplements-healthy/  

 

 

Drugs That Treat Multiple Conditions: Hydroxyzine

Throughout the pharmaceutical world, there are numerous drugs that help people manage multiple conditions. Topiramate, developed to treat seizures, doubles as a migraine treatment. Bupropion, typically prescribed as an antidepressant, also aids in smoking cessation. Minoxidil, developed to treat high blood pressure, is perhaps better known for reversing hair loss.  

Clinical trials determine the effectiveness and safety of drugs before they’re approved for public use, but sometimes these trials reveal unforeseen benefits. Hydroxyzine is a prominent example of this type of versatile medication, and one we’ll explore its multiple uses in this article. 

Hydroxyzine: A Versatile Medication 

Hydroxyzine, a prescription antihistamine typically administered orally, has applications beyond stopping runny noses. As an antihistamine, hydroxyzine is commonly used as a treatment for allergies and allergic reactions, such as certain types of eczema, dermatitis, hay fever, asthma and conjunctivitis. Its additional uses include: 

  • Anxiety treatment  
  • Sedation before medical procedures 
  • Nausea and vomiting relief 
  • Motion sickness symptom alleviation  

Some studies, including those conducted by UF Health, also suggest that the anti-inflammatory response of hydroxyzine lowers the risk of death among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.  

How Hydroxyzine Works 

Hydroxyzine, an H1-blocker, impedes the effects of histamine, a chemical produced within the human immune system. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and interacts with serotonin and dopamine receptors, producing sedative and anxiety-reducing effects. 

H1-blockers such as hydroxyzine stop histamines from binding to histamine receptors, which can be found throughout the body, including on glandular and mast cells, smooth muscle, and nerves. Histamines widen blood vessels and make them more permeable, leading to fluid leakage from capillaries into adjacent tissues. H1-blockers prevent these actions, effectively reducing inflammation and alleviating allergy symptoms. 

If an inflammatory condition leads to chronic inflammation, treatment is essential for the prevention of damage to organs and DNA and the development of several serious diseases, including cancer and heart disease. 

Master Drug Mechanisms and Advance Your Medical Sciences Career 

The University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Medical Sciences with a concentration in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology explores how various drugs and substances affect body systems and overall human health. Our 30-credit program enables you to gain crucial knowledge and a valued credential that can lead to a rewarding career as a: 

  • Physician 
  • Physician assistant 
  • Nurse 
  • Clinical scientist 
  • Professor 
  • Researcher

Our program’s MCAT-aligned curriculum helps prepare you for admission to medical school or nursing school and can distinguish you among a wide field of candidates in a highly competitive admissions environment where about 60% of medical school applicants are rejected annually. 

Benefits of Online Learning 

As an online student, you’ll complete your degree entirely online. No campus or lab visits are required. This empowers you to:  

  • Access coursework from practically anywhere. 
  • Work at your own pace.  
  • Connect with classmates and faculty anytime through email, discussion groups and other online tools.  
  • Network with students from the U.S. and around the world for broader career prospects.  
  • Earn a graduate credential while meeting your professional and personal obligations. 

Start Sooner and Finish Faster 

Our online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology program does not require GRE scores, enabling you to bypass that common admission step. And you can collect your online master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology sooner — in as little as two semesters — if you’ve already completed a qualifying UF graduate certificate program. We allow you to transfer up to 15 credits to this MS program from your: 

Choose an Institution Acclaimed for Quality

This master’s degree program is bolstered by UF’s exceptional reputation and accolades:

Prime yourself for greater opportunities ahead. Apply now! 

Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/hydroxyzine-oral-route/description/drg-20311434
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20775-hydroxyzine-solution
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24854-histamine 
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/slideshows/8-medications-that-treat-multiple-conditions?slide=9 
https://www.aocd.org/page/antihistamines?

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