Basic nutrients

Question 1

Essential & non Essential nutrient definitions

Answer 1

Essential nutrients - cannot be synthesised (vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids/amino acids)

Non-essential nutrients - can be synthesised (glucose, NEFA, NEAA)

Question 2

Macro & micronutrients definitons

Answer 2

Macro - larger quantities (CHO, fat, protein) quantitively largest part of diet, provides energy

Micro - small amounts, (vitamins, minerals, trace elements) quantitively largest family of nutrients

Question 3

Functions of food (2 big ones)

Answer 3

• Promotion of growth/development (proteins for muscle, soft tissue & organ turnover)
• Calcium & phosphorus (skeletal building blocks dependant on vitamin D)

Question 4

Functions of food (4 smaller ones)

Answer 4

• Iron ( RBC’s, mitochondria)
• Energy, warmth, movement (CHO, fats)
• Resisting & infection fighting (vitamins, minerals, proteins)
• Metabolism regulation (enzymes = proteins & require co-factors of vitamins to function

Question 5

Carbohydrates basics

Answer 5

• Carbo (carbon)
• Hydrate (water, hydrogen, O2)
• CH2O
• Glucose (C6H12O6)
• Mono, di, polysaccharides (long chains)

Question 6

Dietary carbohydrates or sources (names & sources)

Answer 6

• Glucose, fructose, galactose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, starch, fibre
• Honey, sugar, veg, milk, syrup, fruit

Question 7

Dietary fats (use, structure, storage)

Answer 7

• 95% = triacylglycerol
• Concentrated source of energy
• 3 FA to 1 glycerol
• Stored in adipose tissue
• Insulating, organ protection, vitamin intake
• Contributor to food flavour

Question 8

Fatty acids (structure & definitions)

Answer 8

• Organic chains of C,H,O
• Saturated (0 double bonds)
• Monounsaturated (1 double bond)
• Polyunsaturated (>1 double bond)

Question 9

Phospholipids (structure, role, definition)

Answer 9

• Contains glycerol backbone & 2 FA (non polar) w/ polar head w/ phosphoric acid residue & either sugar or AA
• An amphipathetic interface between between aqueous & lipid environments (essential structural components of cell membranes)

Question 10

Amphipathetic definition

Answer 10

Both polar and non polar

Question 11

Sterols (structure, role)

Answer 11

• Ring structure w/ associated side chains
• Cholesterol is the main sterol usually combined w/ FA to form cholesterol ester
• Key role in membrane structure, hormone synthesis & bile acids

Question 12

Primary dietary fats & sources

Answer 12

• Cholesterol, phospholipds, trans-fats, SFA, MUFA, PUFA

- milk, animal/fat products, olive oil ect

Question 13

Dietary proteins (uses, structure, role)

Answer 13

• C,H,O & N (excreted as urea in urine)
• Amino acids in polypeptide chain, digested & used through-out body (structural material, enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, energy)
• Quality determined by digestibility, nitrogen retention (>70 = sufficient)

Question 14

RDA & SI

Answer 14

RDA - recommended dietary allowance (same point as RNI but too prescriptive implies everything below is deficient which isn’t true)
Safe intake - a make up measure when others insufficient

Question 15

Scientific basis for establishing DRV’s

Answer 15

• no perfect criterion/measure but here is some reliable experimental data & epidemiological data

Question 16

Energy requirement facts

Answer 16

• Younger > Older

- Male > Females

Question 17

DRV table stats

Answer 17

• 50% carbs
• <5% free sugars
• <35% fat
• <11% unsaturated fat
• 6g salt
• 30g fibre
• Protein 0.74g/kgBM/day
  ( % = % of daily food energy)

Question 18

What should diet be based on?

Answer 18

• DRV table
• Health, work, leisure requirements
• Diseases protection
• Provides sufficient reserve to protect during illness/deficiency

Question 19

What does DRV stand for

Answer 19

Dietary reference values (requires 40 nutrients)

Question 20

what does EAR stand for

Answer 20

Estimated average reqiurement

Question 21

what does RNI stand for

Answer 21

Reference nutrient intake (2 above notational SD, 2 below = likely deficient)