In synthesis, the human organism itself produces vital substances. Important syntheses are, for example, protein synthesis and cholesterol synthesis. Disrupted synthesis pathways have far-reaching consequences and can occur in the context of various deficiency symptoms, organ damage, and diseases.
What is synthesis?
In medicine, the term synthesis refers to biochemical processes in the cells of the body. Chemical synthesis refers to the reaction-based assembly of atoms and molecules into larger compounds. In medicine, for example, the term synthesis refers to biochemical processes in the cells of the body. Well-known syntheses in the human organism are, for example, processes such as protein synthesis, fatty acid synthesis, ATP synthase and hormone syntheses. Each of these processes corresponds to a chemical reaction in which a comparatively complex, often less readily available end product results from relatively simple and readily available starting materials. The term biosynthesis refers even more concretely to metabolic reactions that build chemical compounds. These processes are also summarized under the expression of anabolism. Foreign substances from everyday food are broken down and converted into the body’s own substances. For example, body building blocks such as amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, fats and hormones or nucleic acids are formed. To be distinguished from these definitions of synthesis is osteosynthesis, in which bone is assembled from bone fragments.
Function and task
Five vital groups of substances are known to the body: the proteins, the carbohydrates, the vitamins, the minerals and the fats. Some of these substances are synthesized by the organism itself from more or less simple starting materials. Syntheses are therefore anabolic metabolic processes and produce substances that are needed by the body to build cells, stimulate body organs, for metabolic processes or for energy supply. Protein synthesis is one of the most important synthesis processes in the human organism. There are 50,000 to 100,000 proteins in the human body. They fulfill vital functions, build cells and repair defects. Proteins are formed from a combination of different amino acids in the so-called ribosomes. During protein synthesis, the organism lines up these amino acids on strings and connects them together as if they were chain links. The resulting chains are called polypeptides. The red pigment of blood cells, the neurotransmitters used to transmit nerve impulses, and the building blocks of RNA and DNA are also synthesized from amino acids. Amino acids are thus involved, for example, in the synthesis of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. This hormone, including its derivatives, is produced from the amino acid tyrosine. Enzymes are also synthesized from polypeptide chains and, in some cases, several protein chains. They act as catalysts in the organism and thus accelerate biochemical reactions, for example. In addition to enzymes, some syntheses require starting compounds such as vitamins. These vitamins are essential substances. The human organism cannot synthesize them itself. Therefore, vitamins must be taken in the diet. However, some dietary vitamins are merely precursors of the vitamins that can actually be utilized and are converted in the body in more or less complex processes before being utilized further. Minerals cannot be synthesized either. The inorganic substances are present in the body either as bulk or trace elements and, like vitamins, are absorbed with food. The equally vital fatty acids, on the other hand, can be synthesized by the body from food. Carbohydrates are the starting material in this process.
Diseases and ailments
An innumerable number of diseases can result in a disturbed synthesis of various reaction pathways. For example, disorders can affect hemoglobin synthesis. The concentration of red blood pigment is reduced as a result of a synthesis disorder, which is understood as hypochromic anemia. One cause of this form of anemia may be abnormal iron distribution, since divalent iron molecules are required for synthesis. Erythrocyte synthesis can also be disturbed, for example by an insufficient supply of vitamin B12. In both cases, therefore, malnutrition is responsible for the synthesis disorder.Since an enormous number of syntheses of the human organism take place specifically in the liver cells, liver diseases or damage are also a possible trigger for disturbed synthesis processes. The liver intervenes in most vital metabolic pathways and is therefore also involved in most syntheses. In addition to glycogen synthesis, the synthesis of plasma proteins, coagulation factors and apolipoproteins takes place here. The biosynthesis of non-essential amino acids also occurs mainly in the cells of the liver. The same applies to the synthesis of urea and the substances creatine and glutathione. In addition, the liver is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, fats and lipoproteins, and also synthesizes phospholipids and cholesterol. Finally, the synthesis of complement factors, acute phase proteins and insulin growth factors also takes place in this organ. In addition, the erythropoietins, thrombopoietins, and angiotensinogens are produced in the liver. Therefore, if one of these syntheses is subject to a disturbance or if even all of the mentioned synthesis pathways are disturbed, this may be due to severe liver damage. Such liver damage can occur in the context of alcohol abuse, drug or medication abuse, as well as through other poisonings and various diseases. Of course, other organs are also involved in syntheses. For example, kidney damage can be manifested by disturbances in calcitriol synthesis. Equally well, however, a disturbed calcitriol synthesis can also indicate a vitamin deficiency. Accordingly, the causes and effects of impaired synthesis pathways are diverse.
