Hormones

Compounds made in the body that act as chemical messengers, telling cells what to do

Glycoconjugates

A general term for a sugar or sugar chain chemically bonded to proteins or fats in the body

Glycosylation

The process of adding a sugar or sugar chain to a protein or fat, which normally occurs on the surfaces of cells

Enzymes

Proteins synthesised in the body that speed up or facilitate biochemical reactions that would otherwise occur too slowly, or not at all

Antibody

A molecule produced by the immune system that is designed to attack and overcome a foreign ‘invader’ (antigen)

Colonic environment

The environment in the intestine

Glycoproteins

Compounds consisting of a sugar or sugar chain bonded to a protein

Fibromyalgia

A chronic disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points

Macrophage

A type of immune cell that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead cells and stimulates the action of other immune system cells

Antigen

A molecule that can induce the formation of an antibody (see above)

In vitro

Experiments carried out in test tubes using cell extracts as opposed to in live animals or humans (in vivo)

Calcium ion

A calcium atom carrying two positive charges

Body mass

The constituent weights of the body, ie lean (non-fat) and fat weight

RM (repetition maximum)

The maximal amount of work that can be performed for a given number of repetitions. For example, 1RM is the most weight that can be lifted once. 8RM is the most weight that can be lifted 8 times consecutively

Plyometric exercise

An explosive form of exercise, often involving jumping movements, that utilises the muscle’s ability to stretch then contract rapidly to produce more force

Antagonist/agonist muscles

An agonist is the muscle that contracts to allow movement, and the antagonist is the opposite muscle that normally relaxes to allow this movement