HealthJuly 16, 2026

contraindicator

/ˌkɒntrəˈɪndɪˌkeɪtər/

Definition

A factor, condition, or medical circumstance that makes a specific treatment or procedure inadvisable for a particular patient.

Etymology

The word is formed from the prefix 'contra-' (meaning 'against') combined with 'indicate' (from the Latin 'indicare', meaning 'to show' or 'point out'). It arrived in medical English to denote signs that point a physician away from a specific course of action.

In the news

In this article, a carnitine deficiency is described as a contraindicator for the ketogenic diet because it prevents the body from effectively metabolizing fat and achieving the necessary state of ketosis. Identifying such contraindicators is essential for clinician safety when managing metabolic therapy for psychiatric illness.

Can a 100-Year-Old Diet Help Treat Severe Mental Illness? What the Evidence Shows

Read the full article ↗

Medscape

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