A Guide Book on

BIOCHEMISTRY

For
Medical Record Technician Trainees
 DEFINITION OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Elementary idea of biochemistry

Biochemistry is the chemistry of biological things or living things.

In healthy and sick persons, all the body functions are carried out of

systematic chemical reactions which include exidation, reduction,

transamination and carboxylation etc. This whole process of various

reaction is called as metabolism. Whole metabolism in the body

involves catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolism is the breakdown of products to form new substances.

Anabolism is the synthesis of new products to carry on body functions.

During diseased condition the metabolism becomes unsystematic

so the various biochemical investigations are carried out to find out the

various metabolic disorders.

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 IDEA OF NUTRITION

Food is the source of fuel, which is converted by metabolism into

energy, which is required for various body functions. Heat or energy

obtains from food is measured as calories. The heat generated by good

is used to maintain body temperature. Lowest level of energy required

for life is called BMR (Basal metabolic rate).

Components of Adequate Diet

There are six major components of diet :-

1. Carbohydrate

2. Fat
They provide energy for growth
3. Protein

4. Vitamins
They do not yield energy but are
5. Minerals essential part of metabolism and play
important role in acid base equilibrium.
6. Water

Energy Aspect of Diet or Nutrition

Energy for various body functions is provided by consumption of

carbohydrate, fat and proteins. Caloric or energy requirement of

persons vary according to age and condition of persons. During periods

of growth pregnancy and recovery from disease extra energy is

required.

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 SUGAR, PROTEIN AND LIPID METABOLISM

Sugar :- These are aldehyed ketone derivatives of alcohol, often

called as sugars.

They are important source of energy for vital activities of body.

Some of important e.g. of carbohydrates are glucose, starch, lactose,

fructase, glycogon etc.

Most of dietary carbohydrate is converted to fat and metabolized

as fat. Major function of carbohydrate in metabolism is that it act as a

fuel to be oxidized and provide energy for other metabolic process. End

production of the digestion of carbohydrate is glucose, fructose.

Proteins :- These are macromolecules consist of amino acid. End

product of protein metabolism is amino acid. Proteins are of good

biologic value liver is the main site of protein. Synthesis protein help in

water exchange, act as suffer and also act as reserve of body proteins.

Lipids :- These are important dietary constituents and are of high

energic value. They include fats, oils, waxes.

These are organic substances which are insoluble in water and

are related to fatty acids, on metabolism they form fatty acid.

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 ELECTROLYTE AND WATER BALANCE

Water

Body water is equal to 45-60% body weight. Body water is

distributed between two compartments.

1. Extracellular compartment

2. Intracellular compartment

Water in the body is available through intake and due to formation

from various metabolic reactions.

Distribution of water is influenced by osmatic forces, electrolyte

and soluble concentration.

Loss of extra water occurs through

1. Skin – as prespiration

2. Lungs – As expired air

3. Urine – As excreted from kidney

4. Stool – as excreted from rectum

Electrolytes

These are the components which consist of elements which can

be dissociated in electric field into their ions. Some of important

electrolytes are sodium chloride, potassium chloride and water etc.

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 VITAMINS, HORMONES AND THEIR DEFICIENCY
DISEASES

Vitamins are called accessory food factors. They can be classified in 2

groups.

1. Water soluble vitamins e.g. Vit. B complex and Vit. C.

2. Fat soluble vitamins e.g. Vitamin A,D,E and K

Vitamin deficiency diseases :-

1. Vitamin A deficiency causes - Night blindness

2. Vitamin D deficiency causes - Rickets or bony discode

3. Vitamin E deficiency causes - Muscular dystrophy

4. Vitamin K deficiency causes - Prolong bleeding + clotting

5. Vitamin C deficiency causes - Scurvy

6. Vitamin B complex def. causes - Beriberi, fissuring of skin

Hormones and their deficiency diseases

Hormones are the secretion of endocrine glands. Some of

important hormones and their deficiency diseases are :-

1. Thyroid hormone - Goiter

2. Insulin hormone - Diabetes

3. Adrenal hormones - Nephrosis

4. Testosterones, ovarian hormones - Sterlity

5. Growth hormones - Retarded growth

6. Pituitary hormone - Overall retarded growth

Urine is excretory product, excretion through kidney. In normal

adults 600-2500 ml of urine are formed. The quantity of urine formation

depends on water intake and external temperature diet, mental and

physical state. We are normally acidic in nature. It causes various

inorganic constituents like chloride, sodium, potassium and

phosphatase and organic constituents like sugar, urine excretion

proteins etc.

Normal constituents of urine are

a) Urea b) Ammonia c) Creatinine

d) Uric acid, etc.

Abnormal constituents of urine are

a) Proteins b) Glucose c) Blood

d) Ketone bodies e) Bib pigments

All biochemical diagnostic tests based on the detection of various

contents of urine.

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 CONSTITUENTS OF BLOOD :
ENZYMES & THEIR VARIATION IN DISEASE

Constituents of blood :- Blood is a tissue which circulates in a closed

system of vessels. Blood consists of following solid elements.

1. Red blood cells (RBC)

2. White blood cells (WBC)

3. Platelets

These solid elements are suspended in liquid medium called as

plasma.

Apart from solid contents blood also contains protein, iron and

other minerals. These solid elements vary in their amount in the

diseased conditions.

Enzyme, their variation in diseases

Enzyme are called as biological catalyst. They take active part in

metabolic processes. These enzyme can increase or decrease the rate

of a biochemical reaction. Some of important enzymes are GOT, GPT,

phosphatase amylases etc. Amount of these enzyme activity varies in

various body disorders so they are important diagnostic tools for

diagnosing various diseases.

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 CSF COMPOSITION IN HEALTH AND DISEAES

CSF – Cerebrospinal fluid is an ultrafiltrate of plasma by choroid plexus

of brain. Normal CSF is water clear but in ingestine and unhealthy

persons, it looks like opaque fluid.

CSF constituents : CSF contains following contents :-

1. Sugar :- 50-85 mg%. During diseases sugar contents is

increased.

2. Protein :- 20-45 mg%. It is also increased in diseased

conditions.

3. Chloride :- 700-750 mg%. It is decreased in various disorders.

4. Calcium :- 2-4 mEq/L

Various diagnostic biochemical investigations are based on

changes of these contents of CSF. Some of diseases line encephalitis,

tuberculosis, meningitis reflects the changes in these contents.

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 LFT, GTT AND CLEARANCE TEST OF KIDNEY

LFT (Liver function test) :- LFT like bilirubin test, enzyme test, protein

tests and prothrombin activity tests are used to detect various disorders

of liver. These tests are very important tests.

GTT (Glucose tolerance test):- Glucose tolerance tests are used to

detect the ability of body to utilize glucose. Glucose estimation is

generally done to detect diabetes.

Kidney clearance test like urea clearance, creatinine clearance and

uric acid tests are performed to detect the kidney disorders.