Dietary components Flashcards
Define diet
The sum of food consumed by a person
Name 4 macronutrients
Fat, carbohydrates, protein and alcohol
What are micronutrients?
Vitamins and trace minerals
Name the 2 water-soluble vitamins and their 3 properties
Vitamins B and C aren’t stored, they’re easily destroyed and leach out when cooking
Name the 4 fat-soluble vitamins
Vitamins A, D, E and K dissolve in fat before being absorbed into the bloodstream
What’s the importance of calcium?
Calcium plays a role in helping build strong bones and teeth, regulating muscle contractions and making sure blood clots normally
Give dietary sources of calcium
Milk, cheese, sardines, bread, soya beans, tofu, nuts, leafy greens
What is the main role of iron?
As an oxygen carrier in haemoglobin in blood and myoglobin in muscle
Where is haem iron from?
Animal muscle/blood. Haem iron is well absorbed and not affected by other dietary components
Where is non-haem iron from?
Beans, nuts, dried fruit, wholegrain, fortified cereals, soybean flour, and most dark leafy greens. Non-haem iron absorption is reduced by tannins and phytates but increased by vitamin C
What is potassium important for?
Potassium is an intracellular cation and plays a fundamental role in acid-base regulation, fluid balance, muscle contraction and nerve conduction
What are sources of potassium?
Fruits e.g. bananas, vegetables like broccoli, parsnips and sprouts, pulses, nuts and seeds, fish, beef, chicken and turkey
How is iron stored in the body?
As ferritin
What correlates to total body iron stores?
The concentration of plasma ferritin. Small amounts of ferritin are secreted into plasma
Why does ferritin concentration rise upon infection/ inflammation?
Endotoxins up regulate ferritin expression
What are acute phase proteins?
APPs are a class of proteins whose plasma concentrations increase or decrease in response to inflammation in the acute phase reaction. Their serum concentration rises by >25% in response to inflammatory cytokines
What systemic effects do APPs play a role in mediating?
Fever, leucocytosis, increased cortisol, decreased thyroxine, decreased serum iron and many others
Name 2 positive APPs
C-reactive protein and fibrinogen
Name 2 negative APPS
Albumin and transferase
Name causes of iron deficiency
Menorrhagia, pregnancy. Bleeding in the stomach caused by NSAIDs, stomach ulcers, colitis, oesophagitis, piles or cancers of the bowel or stomach
Name symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia
Lethargy, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and pale skin
How is IDA diagnosed?
FBC tests to check red blood cell population
How is IDA treated?
Iron tablets. Drinking orange juice after taking them can help absorption of the iron
What are some side effects of iron tablets?
Constipation or diarrhoea, abdominal pain, angina, nausea and black stools
What can untreated IDA mean?
Greater risk of illness and infection- a lack of iron affects the immune system. Increased risk of developing heart or lung complications (tachycardia or heart failure). Greater risk of complications before and after birth in pregnant women
What is TEE= BMR + DIT + activity
total energy expenditure= basal metabolic rate + diet-induced thermogenesis + activity (± stress)