Basic Nutrition Flashcards
What are nutrients?
Components in the diet that have specific functions within the body.
What are essential nutrients?
These cannot be synthesised by the body. They must be supplied by the diet.
What are non-essential nutrients?
These can be synthesised by the body.
What are the seven nutrients?
Water, protein, carbohydrates, fibre, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Define homeostasis.
It helps to maintain body water.
It controls the body temperature by panting and sweating.
It also allows chemical reactions to take place.
What percentage of water makes up the bodyweight?
Include intracellular and extracellular.
Water makes up 60% of bodyweight.
40% is intracellular.
20% is at extracellular.
Within extracellular, 14% is trans cellular, 5% is plasma, and 1% is interstitial.
Name three functions of proteins.
Growth, repair, energy, metabolism, and a source of nitrogen.
Why do cats need to have taurine (amino acid) in their diet?
Cats cannot convert methionine rapidly enough, therefore they need taurine in the diet.
Inadequate levels of taurine can cause blindness and heart problems.
When will protein deficiency occur?
It can occur from either low levels of protein in the diet or from insufficient levels from one amino acid.
Name three signs of protein deficiency.
Weight loss, poor growth, dull coat, muscle atrophy, oedema, leading to death.
What are the three main groups of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides.
What are monosaccharides?
Give one example.
Made up of simple sugars, have 3-7 carbon atoms.
I.e. glucose, fructose, galactose.
What are Disaccharides?
Give one example.
Made of two monosaccharides linked together.
I.e. lactose, sucrose, maltose.
What are Polysaccharides?
Give one example.
Made up of many monosaccharides units which are cross linked.
This gives them complex long chains.
I.e. starch, dextrin, glycogen, fibre.
Name three problems with carbohydrates.
They are not easily digested.
There is a possibility of diarrhoea in older animals.
Obesity.
What are the three essential fatty acids (EFA)?
Linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid.
Name three symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency.
Impaired reproductive performance.
Impaired wound healing.
Dry coat and dry, scaly skin.
Name three sources of fat.
Animal fat oils, vegetable oils, oily fish, red meat, dairy products.
Name the two groups of vitamins and give examples.
Water soluble.
B complex vitamins, vitamin c.
Fat soluble.
A, D, E, K.
What is the function of vitamin A?
Vision, bone growth, reproduction, and maintenance of epithelial tissue.
List three sources of vitamin A.
Carotenoids, fish oils, milk, liver, egg.
What are the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency?
Impaired growth, skin disease, reproductive failure.
What are the symptoms of vitamin A excess?
Skeletal abnormalities.
What does vitamin D do?
Helps to regulate calcium and phosphate.
List sources of vitamin D.
Liver, fish, egg, sunshine.
What are symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?
Rickets, osteomalacia, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism.
What are symptoms at vitamin D excess?
Hypercalcaemia, bone reabsorption, soft tissue calcification.
List sources of vitamin E.
Wheat germ, soy, bean oils.
What are symptoms of vitamin E deficiency?
Reproductive failure, pansteatitis.
Name sources of vitamin K.
Leafy plants, some fish, liver.
Name sources of B vitamins.
Meats, vegetables, eggs, dairy.
What are symptoms of B vitamin deficiency?
CNS signs, anaemia, weight loss.
What are vitamins?
Organic molecules that are required in the body’s metabolic processes.
What are minerals?
Inorganic molecules that are essential for the body’s metabolic processes.
Macro-minerals are…
Needed in larger amounts.
Micro minerals are…
Required on smaller amounts.
Name three functions of minerals.
Skeleton structure. Acid base balance and fluid balance. Cell function. Nerve function. Muscle contraction. Iron within haemoglobin assist with carrying oxygen around the body.
List two sources of minerals.
Muscle meat - high phosphorus levels.
Milk - high source of calcium.
Vegetables - contain lots of micro minerals.
Meat and liver - rich in iron.
What is magnesium required for?
Normal function of the heart and skeletal muscle.
What can an excess of calcium/phosphorus cause?
Skeletal abnormalities, especially where over supplementation had occurred.
What can an excess of sodium and chloride cause?
It causes the animal it take in more fluid than normal, which results in oedema, hypertension and heart/kidney problems.
What does potassium help to maintain?
Acid base balance, aids transfer of nerve impulses, and aids muscle contraction.
List three things potassium is present in.
Soya, rice, bran, grains, wheat.
What is manganese important for?
Necessary for enzymes function and metabolic processes.
What is zinc important for?
A healthy skin and coat.
What is copper important for?
Function of RBC and pigmentation of hair and skin.
What is iron important for?
Haemoglobin and myoglobin.
What diet should you feed puppies/kittens and adults?
A diet that is highly digestible and nutrient dense.
What diet should you feed pregnant and lactating dogs/cats?
A highly digestible and energy dense diet.
What diet should you give large breed puppies?
A reduced calcium diet.
What diet should you give a senior dog/cat?
A high quality protein diet.
Also should avoid sudden changes in diet.
What are the four types of commercial diets?
Canned foods, dry foods, semi-moist foods, complete/complementary diets.
Name one disadvantage of homemade diets.
Overcooking will destroy nutrients.
Define resting energy requirements (RER).
The amount of energy expended when sitting quietly in a comfortable environment.
