D1 Human Nutrition Flashcards
What is a nutrient?
A nutrient is a chemical substance found in foods that is used in the human body
What are the 6 classes of nutrient?
There are six classes of nutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and water
What are essential nutrients?
Essential nutrients are those that cannot be synthesised by the body and must be ingested as part of the diet
What are non-essential nutrients?
Non-essential nutrients can be made by the body or have a replacement nutrient which serves the same dietary purpose
Are carbohydrates essential nutrients?
NO
Carbohydrates are not considered essential nutrients as human diets can obtain energy from other sources without ill effect
What is malnutrition?
Malnutrition is a health condition caused by a deficiency, imbalance or excess of nutrients in the diet
What can cause malnutrition? 2
It can be caused by an improper dietary intake of nutrients – e.g. overnutrition (too much) or undernutrition (not enough)
It can be caused by the inadequate utilisation of nutrients by the body – e.g. due to illness or disease
Are symptoms of malnutrition the same for each imbalance?
NO
The symptoms of malnutrition will vary according to the specific nutrient and the type of imbalance involved
What are common signs of malnutrition?
Common signs of malnutrition included stunted growth and wasting (undernutrition), as well as obesity (over nutrition)
How can the energy content of food be estimated? (experimentally)
The energy content of food can be estimated by burning a sample of known mass and measuring the energy released via calorimetry
What does combustion of food release?
Combustion of the food source causes the stored energy to be released as heat, which raises the temperature of water
What is the equation used to calculate the energy content of food via calorimetry?
Energy (joules) = Mass of water (g) × 4.2 (J/gºC) × Temperature increase (ºC)
WHat is the biggest source of error in calorimetry?
The biggest source of error in calorimetry is usually caused by the unwanted loss of heat to the surrounding environment
What should be kept constant in calorimetry?
The food sources should be burnt at a constant distance from the water to ensure reliability of results
The initial temperature and volume of water should also be kept constant (1 g of water = 1 cm3 or 1 ml)
Which nutrient is most commonly used an energy source and why?
Carbohydrates are preferentially used as an energy source because they are easier to digest and transport
What type of energy are lipids used for and why?
Lipids can store more energy per gram but are harder to digest and transport (hence are used for long-term storage)
What happens when proteins are used for energy?
Protein metabolism produces nitrogenous waste products which must be removed from cells
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are the monomeric building blocks from which proteins are constructed
How many amino acids are there?
here are 20 different amino acids which are universal to all living organisms
What categories do amino acids fit into?
Amino acids can be either essential, non-essential or conditionally non-essential according to dietary requirements
WHat are essential amino acids?
Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and must be present in the diet
What are non-essential amino acids?
Non-essential amino acids can be produced by the body and are therefore not required as part of the diet
What are conditionally non-essential amino acids?
Conditionally non-essential amino acids can be produced by the body, but at rates lower than certain conditional requirements (e.g. during pregnancy or infancy) – they are essential at certain times only
What happens if there is a shortage of one or more of the essential amino acids?
A shortage of one or more essential amino acids in the diet will prevent the production of specific proteins
What is a lack of amino acids called?
This is known as protein deficiency malnutrition and the health effects will vary depending on the amino acid shortage
What is PKU?
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a genetic condition that results in the impaired metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine
What does PKU affect regarding genetics?
It is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation to the gene encoding the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase
What is the typical role of PAH?
Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) normally converts excess phenylalanine within the body into tyrosine
What happens as a result of the lack of PAH?
In people with PKU, the excess phenylalanine is instead converted into phenylpyruvate (also known as phenylketone)
What happens when phenylalanine is constantly being converted into phenylketone?
This results in a toxic build up of phenylketone in the blood and urine (hence phenylketonuria)
What can untreated PKU lead to?
Untreated PKU can lead to brain damage and mental retardation, as well as other serious medical problems
How are infants with PKU at birth?
Infants with PKU are normal at birth because the mother is able to break down phenylalanine during pregnancy
How is PKU diagnosed?
Diagnosis of PKU is made by a simple blood test for elevated phenylalanine levels shortly after birth
How is PKU treated?
PKU is treated by enforcing a strict diet that restricts the intake of phenylalanine to prevent its build up within the body
What does a PKU diet contain?
This low-protein diet should include certain types of fruits, grains, vegetables and special formula milk
What should a PKU diet be supplemented with?
This diet should be supplemented with a medical formula that contains precise quantities of essential amino acids
Is a person able to live normally with PKU?
Patients who are diagnosed early and maintain this strict diet can have a normal life span without damaging symptoms
Why are most fatty acids non-essential? What are the exceptions (general)?
Humans can synthesise most fatty acids from carbohydrates, but two (cis)-polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered essential
What are the 2 essential fatty acids?
Alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) cannot be synthesised by the body
WHy are these 2 fatty acids essential?
this is because humans lack the enzyme required to introduce double bonds at the required position of the carbon chain
What are essential fatty acids used for?
Essential fatty acids are modified by the body to make important lipid-based compounds (such as signalling molecules)
What is linked to a deficiency of essential fatty acids?
There is evidence to suggest dietary deficiencies of these fatty acids may be linked to impaired brain development (e.g. depression) and altered maintenance of cardiac tissue (e.g. abnormal heart function) – although this evidence is contested
What are foods rich in essential fatty acids?
Foods rich in essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) include fish, leafy vegetables and walnuts
How are fats and cholesterol transported?
Fats and cholesterol cannot dissolve in the bloodstream and so are packaged with proteins (to form lipoproteins) for transport
What are LDLs?
Low density lipoproteins (LDLs) carry cholesterol from the liver to the body (hence raise blood cholesterol levels)
What are HDLs?
High density lipoproteins (HDLs) carry excess cholesterol back to the liver for disposal (hence lower blood cholesterol levels)
What does the mix of fatty acids consumed affect?
The mix of fatty acids consumed as part of a diet directly influences the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream:
How do saturated fatty acids affect the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream?
Saturated fats increase LDL levels within the body, raising blood cholesterol levels