Vitamin Information Center

Body Mass Index (BMI)
Definition
Body mass index is defined as the individual’s body
weight divided by the square of the individual’s height
(kg/m2). The BMI is used for classifying underweight,
overweight and obesity in adults. The BMI is a simple
metric that relates weight and height. If an adult
for example weighs 75kg and its height is 1.80m, the
BMI will be 23.1. The cut-off points as defined by the
WHO are <18.50 for underweight, 18.50–24.99 for normal
range, 25.00–29.99 for overweight and ≥30 for
obese. Those BMI values are age- and sex-independent
in general, yet the BMI might not correspond to a similar
degree of fatness in different populations. There are
different health risks related with an increasing BMI,
e. g. type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Body Function
Synonyms
Physiological function
Definition
The physiological or psychological functions of a body
are defined as body functions. According to theWHO’s
International Classification of Functioning, Disability,
and Health (ICF), body functions are categorized into
different subfunctions. Mental functions, such as the
functions of the brain, can be differentiated into global
mental functions (consciousness, energy, drive) and
specific mental functions (memory, language, calculation).
Sensory functions include functions like seeing,
hearing, tasting, etc., as well as the sensation of pain.
Voice and speech functions produce sounds and speech.
There are functions of the cardiovascular system (heart
and blood vessels), the hematological and immunological
systems (blood production and immunity), and respiratory
systems (respiration and exercise tolerance),
as well as functions of the digestive system (ingestion,
digestion, and elimination), the metabolic system, and
the endocrine system. The genitourinary functions refer
to urination, and the reproductive functions include sexual
and procreative functions. The neuromusculoskeletal
and movement-related functions are responsible for
movement and mobility, and include the functions of
joints, bones, reflexes, and muscles. Finally, there are
the functions of the skin and related structures, like
nails and hair.

Body Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
Synonyms
Body fluid and electrolyte household; Equilibrium of
body fluids and electrolytes; Fluid and electrolyte balance
of the organism
Cross-References
 Therapy of Infectious Diseases

Body Fluid Balance
Synonyms
Body fluid household; Equilibrium of body fluids; Fluid
balance of the organism
Definition
The body fluid balance includes all the mechanisms
that control and influence the excretion and retention of
body fluids. The organism endeavors to reach an optimal
amount of fluids inside and outside the cells and –
at the same time – the optimal composition of these fluids.
Besides intake and excretion of fluids the invisible
loss of fluids also has to be taken into considered. Fluids
are lost by breathing and over the skin, especially
through the sweat. Larger amounts of fluids can be lost
in diarrhea or vomiting and feverish conditions.

Bloodstream Infections
Synonyms
Sepsis; Bacteremia
Definition
Hospital bloodstream infections (BSI) constitute a serious
health problem and are associated with high mortality.
According to CDC definitions, a hospital BSI
is defined as a patient with a clinically important
blood culture positive for a bacterium or fungus that
is obtained more than 48 hours after being admitted to
the hospital. BSIs can be “laboratory confirmed BSI”
or “clinical sepsis”. BSIs can be further categorized as
primary or secondary. Primary BSI occurs without any
recognizable focus of infection elsewhere. Secondary
BSIs are infections that develop subsequent to a hospital
infection with the same microorganism at another
body site. Vascular catheters account for most cases of
hospital BSI.

Bloodpoisoning
Synonyms
Septic infection; Systemic inflammatory reaction; Systemic
inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS); Generalized
infection
Cross-References
 Acute Life-Threatening Infections
 Sepsis

Blinding
Definition
Blinding or masking prevents conscious or subconscious
biases in research. It is not inherent to randomized
trials, but should be used whenever possible, as
placebo effects are powerful. Blinding requires a placebo
that cannot be distinguished from the treatment.

Bipolar Affective Disorder
Synonyms
Manic-depressive illness; Manic-depressive psychosis;
Manic-depressive reaction
Definition
Bipolar affective disorders are characterized by two or
more episodes in which the patient’s mood and activity
levels are significantly disturbed, this disturbance
consisting on some occasions of an elevation of mood
and increased energy and activity ( hypomania or
 mania) and on others of a lowering of mood and
decreased energy and activity (depression). Repeated
episodes of hypomania or mania only are classified as
bipolar.

Bioterrorism
Synonyms
Biological terrorism
Definition
Bioterrorism describes a form of terrorism that uses
micro-organisms or toxic agents from living organisms
to attack people, animals or plants for terrorist purposes.
The difference between bioterrorism and conventional
terrorism is mainly the duration from the time
of attack to the time of the presentation of victims.

Biotechnology
Synonyms
Bioengineering; Ergonomics; Genetic engineering
Definition
Biotechnology represents the use of biological processes
through the exploitation and manipulation of living
organisms or biological systems, in the development
or manufacture of a product or in the technological
solution to a problem. It is applied in pharmacology,
medicine, agriculture, and many other fields. Example
of biotechnology are techniques of genetic engineering.