Ch:6 Macronutrients Flashcards
Monosaccharides
The simplest form of carbohydrate.
Oligosaccharides
Saccharide composed of a small number of monosaccharides.
Polysaccharides
More than about 10 linked monosaccharides that form a polymer.
Glucose
A monosaccharide found in foods and blood; the end product of carbohydrate metabolism and the major source of energy for humans.
Fructose
A monosaccharide that is very sweet; possesses a ketone rather than an aldehyde, which distinguishes it from glucose.
Galactose
A monosaccharide: less soluble and sweet than glucose.
Amylose
A component of starch characterized by straight chains of glucose units.
Amylopectin
A component of starch characterized by its highly branched structure and fast digestion.
Salivary Amylase
Enzyme found in saliva that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch.
Pancreatic Amylase
Enzyme found in pancreatic juice that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch.
Glycemic Index (GI)
Measure of the rate of which an ingested food causes the level of glucose in the blood to rise.
Glycemic Load
Equal to the glycemic index of a food times the number of grams of carbohydrates in the serving.
Insulin Index (II)
Measure of the rate of which an ingested food causes the level of insulin in the blood to rise.
Glut Family
Group of membrane proteins that transport glucose from the blood into cells.
Glycogen Synthase
Enzyme necessary for the conversion of excess glucose into stored glycogen.
Glycogenolysis
Breakdown of stored glycogen to glucose.
Glycogen Phosphorylase
Enzyme necessary for glycogenolysis; breaks glycogen into glucose units.
Satiety
The state of being satisfactorily full.
Soluble Fiber
Relatively indigestible, water-soluble polysaccharides found in plants (e.g., psyllium, pectin) that undergo metabolic processing to enhance bowel health.
Insoluble Fiber
Indigestible, non-watersoluble polysaccharides found in plants (e.g., wheat bran, nuts): increases stool bulk.
Hydrocarbons
Organic compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen.
Fatty Acid
Chain of carbon atoms with a carboxylic acid and aliphatic tail.
Saturated Fatty Acids
A fatty acid with no double bonds in the chain.
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
Double bonds between carbons in fatty acid chain.
Triglycerides
Compound with three molecules of fatty acids bound with one molecule of glycerol; the storage form of fat in humans.
Glycerol
Sugar alcohol that is the backbone of a triglyceride.
Pancreatic Lipase
Enzyme secreted from the pancreas that hydrolyzes fat.
Chylomicrons
A lipoprotein that transports cholesterol and triglyceride from the small intestines to tissues of the body.
Lipoprotein Lipase
An enzyme found in endothelial cells lining the capillaries; hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and glycerol.
Linoleic Acid
Unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid considered essential to the human diet.
Linolenic Acid
Unsaturated omega-3 fatty acid considered essential to the human diet.
Healthy Fats
Fats that have been shown to improve overall health.
Omega-3/Omega-6 Fatty Acid Ratio
Balance of dietary fat intake; critical to overall health.
Eicosanoids
Signaling molecules of the body that control many systems.
Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA)
Unsaturated omega-3 fatty acid; see linolenic acid
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
An omega-3, polyunsaturated fatty acid, found mainly in fish and algae; can be formed from ALA.
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
An omega-3, polyunsaturated fatty acid, found mainly in fish and algae.
Trans Fat
Unsaturated fat with a transisomer fatty acid; created through hydrogenation.
Amino Groups
Functional group (abbreviated as NH2) that contains a nitrogen atom.
Peptides or Peptide Chains
Short polymer formed from linking amino acids.
Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary Structures
Shape/formation that a protein takes depending on its biological function.
Gastric Hydrochloric Acid
Produced by parietal cells in the stomach, this acid liquid is necessary for digestion.
Pepsin
Digestive protease released in the stomach to degrade food proteins to peptides.
Proenzyme
Inactive enzyme precursor that requires a biochemical change to become active.
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAS)
Amino acid with aliphatic side chain that is non-linear.
Plasma Amino Acid Pool
Reserve of amino acids found in blood plasma.
Deamination
Removal of an amine group from a compound.
Net Negative Protein Balance
Nitrogen output that exceeds nitrogen intake.
Nonessential Amino Acids
Amino acid that does not need to be included in the diet.
Essential Amino Acids
Amino acid that must be included in the diet.
Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDSAAS)
A method based on the amino acid requirements of young children that takes into consideration digestibility of the protein; a recently developed and preferred measure for determining the quality of protein.
Limiting Amino Acid
The essential amino acid found in the smallest quantity in the food.
