Cholesterol is a lipid synthetized in the liver from fats ingested by food. Its role is critical in the regulation of cellular membranes’ permeability, in vitamin D production, in the production of bile acids and in hormonal synthesis.
Phosphorus is an inorganic element stored in its majority in bones (combined with calcium) whereas just a small percentage of it, is circulating in blood.
Ferritin is the main iron storage complex in the human body. It is found in the hepatocytes, the bone marrow, the spleen and the muscles. A part of it is circulating in the blood. Ferritin is an indirect marker of the amount of iron stored in the organism.
Triglycerides are synthetized in the liver from fatty acids, proteins and glucose. They are also acquired by food and they are then stored in the adipose tissue. Their transport is achieved chylomicrons and by very low density lipoproteins. They are used as energy source.
Transaminases are hepatic enzymes whose value is elevated mainly in hepatic disease. There are two kinds of transaminases
ESR is a non-specific index of inflammation in the human body. It measures how quickly red blood cells settle at the bottom of a glass capillary tube after one hour. The faster the erythrocytes fall at the bottom of the tube, the higher the ESR.
Iron is a major component of haemoglobin and is necessary for oxygen transport from the lungs to the tissues.
Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines which are nitrogenous compounds found in human cells and in certain foods.
Urea is the final product of protein catabolism in the liver. Proteins initially break down to amino acids, which, in turn, degrade to toxic ammonia.
T3 is a thyroid hormone, 20% of which, is produced by the thyroid gland and 80% in peripheral tissues by conversion of T4 to T3 (deiodination).
It circulates in blood either bound to proteins (total T3) or free of proteins (free T3).