D1 Better Flashcards
What is a nutrient?
A substance needed by the body to provide energy or provide materials for metabolic reactions
What are essential nutrients?
Nutrients that cannot be made by the human body from other materials, and therefore must be part of the diet
What are minerals
Elements or compounds that are inorganic
Why are minerals only needed in a small amount?
Because they can’t stay in the body for a long time
What are electrolytes?
Minerals dissolved in a fluid. They are present as charged ions
Why are electrolytes important?
They are important in terms of sending messages along nerves and initiating muscle contractions
What are vitamins?
Organic molecules (carbon based) made by living things.
Why are most vitamins only needed in small quantities?
Because vitamins are used to create compounds that are generally long lived in the human body
What is vitamin c needed for?
To from collagen in bone, cartilage, muscles and blood vessels
How do humans get vitamin c?
There is a mutation in the gene so we can’t make vitamin c it must be consumed in the diet
What is vitamin d needed for?
For the absorption of calcium
What is a consequence of lack of vitamin d?
Calcium can not be absorbed, this can result in rickets where growing bones become malformed and the child does not grow to their full potential and often how bowed limbs
How can your cells make vitamin d?
The synthesis of vitamin d is triggered by uv ray absorption, however there is a higher risk of skin cancer with exposure to uv rays
What are fatty acids?
Carbond chains that can be attached to glycerol to from a triglyceride (lipid)
What are fatty acids from lipids used for?
To make parts of the cell membrane and used to synthesis some hormones.
What type of fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6?
They are polyunsaturated fatty acids
What does excessive blood cholesterol levels result in?
Atherosclerosis
What is atherosclerosis?
When plaque builds up in arteries and may block them, if plaque builds up in the coronary arteries a myocardial infarction might occur (heart attack)
What are amino acids?
Carbon based monomers of polypeptides (proteins)
Out of the 20 amino acids how many are essential?
9
What are conditionally non-essential nutrients?
Sometimes essential some time not
How do humans store amino acids?
Humans have no way of storing amino acids, they must be a regular part of the diet
What is phenylketonuria (PKU)?
Is a genetic recessive disease where the enzyme which breaks down the amino acid phenylalanine is not produced
What is the consequence of excessive phenylalanine in the blood?
Can lead to mental, retardation, seizures, and severe behaviour problems
