Refsum disease

 Refsum disease (RD) is a hereditary disorder, rare, in which the phytanic acid, a product of fat metabolism, accumulates in the tissues. The accumulation of phytanic acid causes damage to the nerves and retina, spastic movements and changes bone and skin. The phytanic acid source is the absorption of phytol directly absorbed from the ruminant fat in the meat or milk (Reynolds, 2009).

    For the same author, fats in the body are composed of various fatty acids, one of which is called phytanic acid. He comes from chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants that contains a side chain phytol. The man, carnivores and most omnivores not absorb chlorophyll phytol with your attached.

    For ROWLAND (2002) symptoms of the disease begin to children even when some patients, and others appear to fifth decade of life. Generally the second to third decade blindness occur nightly, weakness in the limbs, but mostly the march.

    The research is important because of the relevance to gather a theoretical arsenal of various authors and scientific articles freely accessible to all health professionals who are interested or need to use it, a copy will be available in the University Library of SKUs, Concordia campus and published in a scientific journal.