Biochemical aspects of GI disease and nutrition

Question 1

Glucose is broken down by….

Sucrose is broken down by….

Lactose is broken down by….

Answer 1

Maltase into 2x glucose

Sucrase into 1x glucose + 1x fructose

Lactase into 1x glucose + 1x galactose

Question 2

How can pancreatic function be tested?

Answer 2

Faecal pancreatic elastase-1

Serum Immunoreactive trypsin (IRT)

Question 3

What can vitamin A deficiency cause?

Answer 3

Night blindness

Question 4

What can vitamin E deficiency cause?

Answer 4

Premature infants –> haemolytic anaemia + thrombocytopenia

Children/young adults –> spinocerebellar degeneration

Parenteral nutrition

Question 5

What can vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency cause?

Answer 5

Beriberi

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

Question 6

What can vitamin B1 (riboflavin) deficiency cause?

Answer 6

Angular stomatitis

Oily scaly skin rashes

Eyes sensitive to light

Anaemia

Birth defects

Question 7

What can vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide) deficiency cause?

Answer 7

Pellagra (dementia, diarrhoea, dermatitis)

Question 8

What can vitamin B6 deficiency cause?

Answer 8

Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Atrophic glossitis
Confusion 
Neuropathy
Sideroblastic anaemia

Question 9

What can zinc deficiency cause?

Answer 9

Inadequate intake –> parenteral feeding

Increased loss –> diarrhoea

Question 10

When and why is a calprotectin test performed?

Answer 10

When a patient has bloody or watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, with or without fever, lasting more than a few days.

Detect intestinal inflammation.
Distinguish between IBD and non-inflammatory bowel conditions.
Also monitors IBD.