Importance of Biochemistry Part 2: Biochemistry Blog

Importance of Biochemistry Part 2: Biochemistry Blog

Normal Biochemical Processes Are the Basis of Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of "complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity." From a strictly biochemical viewpoint, health may be considered that situation in which all of the many thousands of intra- and extracellular reactions that occur in the body are proceeding at rates commensurate with the organism's maximal survival in the physiologic state. However, this is an extremely reductionist view, and it should be apparent that caring for the health of patients requires not only a wide knowledge of biologic principles but also of psychologic and social principles.

Biochemical Research Has Impact on Nutrition & Preventive Medicine

One major prerequisite for the maintenance of health is that there be optimal dietary intake of a number of chemicals; the chief of these are vitamins, certain amino acids, certain fatty acids, various minerals, and water. Because much of the subject matter of both biochemistry and nutrition is concerned with the study of various aspects of these chemicals, there is a close relationship between these two sciences. Moreover, more emphasis is being placed on systematic attempts to maintain health and forestall disease, that is, on preventive medicine. Thus, nutritional approaches to—for example—the prevention of atherosclerosis and cancer are receiving increased emphasis. Understanding nutrition depends to a great extent on knowledge of biochemistry.

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