Glossary

Category: F

  • Food poisoning

    Food poisoning

    May be due to (1) contamination with harmful bacteria or other microorganisms; (2) toxic chemicals; (3) adverse reactions to certain proteins or other natural constituents of foods; (4) chemical contamination. The commonest bacterial contamination is due to species of Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter, Listeria, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium welchii. Very rarely, food poisoning is due to…

  • Food insecurity

    The absence of food security.  

  • Food and nutrition information center (FNIC)

    Located at the National Agricultural Library, part of the US Department of Agriculture; website http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic.  

  • Food, foodstuffs

    Any solid or liquid material consumed by a living organism to supply energy, build and replace tissue, or participate in such reactions. Defined by the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission as a substance, whether processed, semi-processed, or raw, which is intended for human consumption and includes drink, chewing gum, and any substance that has been used…

  • Folinic acid

    The 5-formyl derivative of the vitamin folic acid; more stable to oxidation than folic acid itself, and commonly used in pharmaceutical preparations. The synthetic (racemic) compound is known as leucovorin. The active form of folic acid. It is used in counteracting the effects of folic acid antagonists, and in treating anemia due to folic acid…

  • Foam cells

    Macrophages that have accumulated very large amounts of cholesterol as a result of uptake of (chemically modified) low-density lipoprotein. They infiltrate arterial walls and lead to the development of fatty streaks, and eventually atherosclerosis. A cell that contains vacuoles; a lipid-filled macrophage.  

  • Fluoroapatite

    Crystal incorporating fluoride that forms tooth enamel.  

  • Flavoproteins

    Enzymes that contain the vitamin riboflavin, or a derivative such as flavin adenine dinucleotide or riboflavin phosphate, as the prosthetic group. Mainly involved in oxidation reactions in metabolism. An enzyme containing a flavin nucleotide as a prosthetic group. A compound consisting of a protein bound to either FAD or FMN (called flavins). Flavoproteins are constituents…

  • Flavin mononucleotide (FMN)

    (Chemically riboflavin phosphate) One of the coenzymes derived from vitamin B2. Riboflavin phosphate, a coenzyme of certain oxido-reduction enzymes. A nucleotide coenzyme containing riboflavin.  

  • Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)

    One of the coenzymes formed from vitamin B2 (riboflavin). A hydrogen carrier in cellular respiration. The coenzyme of some oxidation-reduction enzymes; it contains riboflavin. A hydrogen carrier in the citric acid cycle of cell respiration; it is a derivative of riboflavin. A vital coenzyme ubiquitous in living cells, performing the function of a hydrogen carrier.…