337 Virgin Olive Oil Benefits are particularly prone to vitamin K deficiency bleeding for several reasons: they are born with no stores of the vitamin, as maternal vitamin K does not cross the placenta easily; breast milk contains only small amounts of the vitamin; and newborns are born with sterile intestines, lacking the bacteria required to synthesise it. For this reason, a single intramuscular preventive injection of vitamin K is usually given within a few hours of birth. Formula milk products typically contain added vitamin K. In exclusively breastfed infants, the risk of deficiency declines as solid foods are introduced and the intestinal flora develops, usually around 4 to 6 months of age. VIVA Study A prospective cohort study of mothers and their children designed to assess maternal and child health through maternal diet and other factors during pregnancy. Conducted in Massachusetts (USA), the study enrolled around 1,500 pregnant women and followed their children through adolescence. WAXES Waxes are esters of long-chain free fatty acids and high molecular weight alcohols. The main waxes contain an even number of carbon atoms (C36 to C46 esters). They are found in animals, covering the body surface, skin, and feathers, and are secreted by bees (beeswax). In plants, they coat the epidermis of fruit and stems, etc. Olive oil contains waxes derived from both the fruit and the leaves of the olive tree, and their presence is an indicator of the oil’s purity. WHEEZING Wheezing refers to high-pitched, whistling sounds produced during breathing when the airways are partially obstructed. These sounds are usually more noticeable when breathing out (expiration), though they may also occur when breathing in (inspiration). Wheezing results from narrowing or partial blockage at any point in the airways. This narrowing can be generalized, as in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or severe allergic reactions, or localised, for example due to a tumour or a foreign body lodged in the airways. Asthma is the most common cause of wheezing, although not all wheezing is caused by asthma. XENOBIOTICS Xenobiotics are synthetic compounds with chemical structures that do not exist naturally, or are extremely rare in nature. They are developed by humans in laboratories. Examples include certain pesticides, synthetic materials (e.g., non-stick Teflon coatings -such as those used on frying pans-, upholstery fabrics, fire extinguisher components), detergents, plastics, cosmetics, perfumes, synthetic drugs, food additives, and more. Once absorbed, inhaled, or ingested, xenobiotics undergo a metabolic transformation in the body to become water-soluble so they can be excreted via urine; some are also eliminated in the faeces. The liver plays a central role in this biotransformation (both qualitatively and quantitatively) thanks to its high concentration of enzymes and other compounds that rapidly capture and metabolise xenobiotics from the bloodstream. Although xenobiotics are foreign substances, the body processes them using the same
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