Essential nutrients Flashcards
1
Q
What is a nutrient?
A
substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and maintenance of life
2
Q
Macronutrients supply what?
A
energy
3
Q
T or F: Micronutrients do not supply energy
A
true
4
Q
6 basic classes of nutrients
A
Macronutrients - Proteins, carbohydrates and fats
Micronutrients - Minerals, vitamines and water (most important)
5
Q
Essential nutrients
A
Body cannot make (synthesize) these nutrients, it must be provided through diet
6
Q
Non-essential nutrients
A
Nutrients that the body CAN make (synthesize)
7
Q
Obligate carnivore
A
A being that depends on animal-based protein for survival (70% meat at least)
8
Q
1 Calorie
A
amount of heat needed to raise the temp of 1 gram of water by 1 C or how much energy we need to burn for X amount of water
9
Q
Protein maintains what?
A
maintains structure
provides energy
provides essential amino acids
10
Q
Responsibility of protein in the body
A
Building and repairing muscle
growing hair
Forming new skin cells
11
Q
2 factors that affect protein quality
A
Digestibility
Essential amino acid content
12
Q
Proteins are composed of ______________________
A
a chain of amino acids
13
Q
1 g of protein = ?
A
4Kcal energy
14
Q
Palatability
A
How much a pet likes a food
Influenced by odor, temp, texture, mouth-feel, fat, water, salt
15
Q
Digestibility
A
Amount of nutrients in food available for absorption after consumption
Influenced by quality of ingredients and processing technique
16
Q
What does digestibility refer to?
A
how much of a protein the body will use and the leftover that’ll be discarded
17
Q
What happens to undigested proteins?
A
moves from the small intestine to the large intestine where they contact both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria ferments protein in the colon causing gas and poor poops
18
Q
Dogs require ___ essential amino acids
A
10
19
Q
Cats require _____ essential amino acids with an addition of _____
A
11;Taurine
20
Q
11 essential amino acids
A
Arginine
Leucine
Phenylalanine
Valine
Histidine
Lysine
Tryptophan
Isoleucine
Methionine
Threonine
Taurine
21
Q
When was it discovered that cats need taurine?
A
late 1980’s
22
Q
Can cats produce their own taurine?
A
no!
23
Q
A taurine deficiency can cause what in cats?
A
cardiac arrest and retinal degeneration
24
Q
T or F: Cats aren’t obligate carnivores
A
false - they are!
25
Protein sources in pet food - from most digestible to least
Egg
Wheat gluten
Soy protein isolate
Corn gluten
Chicken meal
Chicken
Chicken feet
26
Veterinary diets ensure what?
that proteins are at least 90% digestible
27
Adult cats/dogs should have how many BMs daily?
2-3 bowel movements
28
Growing dogs/cats should have how many BMs daily?
3-4 bowel movements
29
What happens to excess protein?
Broken down and used as energy
Turns into carbohydrate precursors
Converted into glycogen or fat and stored for future energy use
30
T or F: The body cannot store a lot of protein for future use
true
31
T or F: Cats have a higher protein requirement which means protein is used as an energy source
true
32
Carbohydrates
sugars
starches
fibers
33
Why are carbohydrates called that?
at the chemical level they have carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
34
Where can carbs be found?
fruits
grains
vegetables
milk products
35
Major carb required by cells
glucose
36
T or F: Carbs are an inexpensive source of energy, fiber and palatability
true
37
Main function of carbs
to supply energy
38
1 g carbs = ?
4Kcal energy
39
What happens when enough carbs are provided to the body?
the body spares protein from energy uses and puts it towards tissue repair/growth
40
Are carbs considered essential?
no
41
T or F: There is no deficiency syndrome for a lack of carbs
true - they provide quick energy and support GI tract
42
T or F: Appropriate levels of carbs will predispose cats to be obesity
false
43
Raw diets contain what?
almost no fiber - most patients suffer from constipation
44
What is fiber classified as despite not being used for the same purpose?
Carbohydrate - doesn't break down surgars for energy
45
Fiber is used to what?
"dilute" calories
46
Fiber resists what?
digestion in the stomach and small intestine
47
Fiber is used in diets for what reasons?
improve stool quality
slow intestinal transit time
aids with satiety and weight loss
48
Soluble fiber
Improves stool quality
regulates motility
absorbs water
lowers blood sugar levels
useful in cases of constipation
Psyllium, Maltodextrin, Fructioligosaccharides
49
Insoluble fiber
increases fecal bulk
does NOT absorb water
stimulates motility
increases satiety
lowers risk of heart disease/cancers
can be used to manage/treat cases of diabetes, obesity and constipation
cellulose, beet pulp, oat bran
50
Example of a fiber with mixed solubility
pea fiber
51
In cases of constipation what form of fiber is useful?
both forms (soluble and insoluble) are useful
52
Can you use insoluble fiber with a severe case of obstipation and megacolon?
since there is often a functional impairment you should avoid insoluble fiber because it will fill the colon faster
53
Fat in commerical pet foods
primary energy source
54
1g fat = ?
9Kcal - double the energy of protein and carbs
55
Lipids are composed of what?
simple to complex molecules that consist of fats and oils
56
Fats are composed of what?
triglycerides - 3 fatty acids attached to glycerol chain
57
Fat can be found where?
in plant and animal sources
58
Fat improves _______ of food
palatability
59
The more _____ a diet has, the more _____ dense it will be
fat;energy
60
Carrier of fat-soluble vitamins
A
D
E
K
61
The main functions of fat
providing and storing energy
making up cell membraine structure
insulation and protection
acting as signaling agents and hormones
forming other compounds like cholesterol
62
Omega 6 Fat
vegetable oils
63
Benefits of omega 6
important for skin/coat health
essential fatty-acid
linoleic and arachidonic acid (essential in cats for growth/reproductions or as precurses for inflammatory mediators)
64
Omega 3 fat
fish oil or marine sources (fish)
65
Benefits of omega 3
decreases inflammation in joints
improves blood flow to kidneys
eicosapaentanoic acid (EPA) - marine source
Docosahaexanoic acid (DHA) - marine source
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) - only omega 3 that comes from a plant source
66
Dogs can convert about 5% of ALA to _____ and _____
EPA;DHA
67
Since cats cannot convert ALA they need what in their diet to supply EPA and DHA
marine source
68
Fat deficiency signs
delayed wound healing
dry hair coat
scaly skin
skin infections
69
Minerals are needed in the diet for?
metabolic processes
70
Minerals can be found where?
in salts and dietary ingredients
71
what is Ash?
the gross estimation of mineral content in food - 5-8%
72
Minerals aid in what?
bone structure
nerve function
formation of cartilage/skin
normal function of thyroid gland
73
What happens if there's too many minerals?
can bind together - decreases the bioavailability - results in deficiency
74
How many minerals are essential for dogs/cats and what groups are they divided into?
12 minerals are essential; Macrominerals and microminerals(trace minerals)
75
12 essential minerals
macrominerals - calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium
Microminerals(trace minerals) - iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, iodine, cobalt
76
It's the ______ of the amount of minterals that's important
balance
77
What mineral is needed in its highest amount?
calcium
78
The amount of calcium absorbed is _____ to the volume ingested
proportional - puppies absorb CA passively
79
Excess Ca can cause what?
harmful skeletal development in puppies
radius curvus
osteoarthritis
80
Ca is needed for what?
muscle contraction
nerve impulses
81
When are bones formed?
after all Ca needs have been met
82
Absorption of Ca in adult dogs is __________ by ________
regulated;hormones
83
2nd largest constituent of bone and teeth
phosphorous
84
phosphorous is an __________ __________ ________
energy producing compound
85
2 rich sources of phosphorous
meat and bones
86
Phosphorous needs a specific ratio to _____ for optimal health
calcium
87
Raw diets contain what?
high levels of phosphorous - complete and balanced diets respect the ratio
88
Who for and why does phosphorous intake need to be lowered?
for patients with kidney disease since they cannot process it right
89
Why are vitamins necessary?
otherwise it can cause deficiency syndromes like scurvy
90
Primary role for most vitamins
act as cofactors in metabolic reactions
91
Fat soluble vitamins
A,D,E,K - stored in body fat/liver and found in fatty soiurces like eggs
92
Water soluble vitamins
B,C - excreted woth water loss and found mostly in vegetables
93
T or F: Fat soluble vitamins can accumulate to toxic levels in the liver
true - food recalls with high levels of VD
94
T or F: Water soluble vitamins have limited storage and excrete fast which means toxicity is less likely
true
95
All commercial pet foods contatin ______ supplementation
vitamin
96
T or F: It isn't difficult to formulate a diet that meets all vitamin requirements entirely from ingredients sources
false
97
Vit D regulates what?
calcium and phosphorous metabolism
98
Dogs/cats are inefficient at what?
converting Vit D precursors into the active form (using UV light) so they're dependent on a dietary source
99
What do humans and guinea pigs need that dogs/cat synthesize on their own?
Vit C - should still be added to diets
100
Vit C plays a huge role in what?
collagen and elastin formation which is important for connective tissue production
101
Why can't cats converts carotenoids (plant pigment/carotene) to Vit A
they lack the necessary enzymes so it must be provided in their diet
102
Oxidative stress can be caused by what?
variety of influences - UV light, pollution, stress or poor diet
103
What is it called when an O2 molecule splits into atoms with unpaired electrons
free-radicals
104
Free radicals
search for a pair - causes damange to body cells
it can pair to electrons present on cell membranes - makes the cell unstable
105
Antioxidants
have an extra electron that pairs with damaged cells - neutralizes it to prevent further damage
106
T or F: Water is the most important nutrient
true
107
What % of human/animal body weight is water
50-70%
108
Some reasons why water is needed
temperature regulation
digestion
other metabolic processes
other chemical reactions
109
Dehydration
decreased amount of water in body
110
3 routes of water loss
urinary excretion
fecal water
evaporation from lungs during respiration
111
Water consumption must compensate for what?
continual fluid losses
112
How do most healthy pets regulate water balance?
through volountary intake
113
2 ways dogs/cats can obtain daily water
drinking and eating - dryfood = 10% water - canned food = 75% water
114
How much water dogs/cats need per day
dogs = 60-80mls/a day per kg of body weight
cats = 50mls/a day per kg of body weight
115
2 Examples of calculating water intake for dogs/cats
dogs = 60-80mls/ per day per kg of body weight (5 kg dog needs 300-400 mls a day)
cats = 50mls/ per day per kg of body weight (5 kg cat needs 250 mls)
116
If a dog weighs 25 kg how much water should it be drinking per day?
1500-2000 mls (1.5 - 2L)
117
5% loss of total body water can result in what?
sluggishness and an overall unwell feeling in our pets
118
10% loss of total body water can result in what?
serious illnesses
119
15% loss of total body water may result in what?
death
120
Kilocalorie
Kcal/calorie
amount of energy/heat needed to raise the temp of 1kg of water by 1 C
121
Digestible Energy
DE
gross energy (GE) from food minus lost energy in feces
122
Metabolizable Energy
ME
DE minus energy lost in urine/gas
most common estimate of number of kcals provided from pet food
123
Net Energy
NE
ME minus energy used when digesting, absorbing and using food
124
Atwater factors used to estimate the energy content of the 3 macronutrients in commercial cat food
protein = 4Kcal/g
fat = 9Kcal/g
carbohydrate = 4Kcal/g
125
Energy requirements of dogs/cats are usually expressed as what?
Kcal of ME
(kilocalorie of metabolizable energy)
126
Energy density of a pet food refers to what?
the number of calories provided by the food in weight or volume
127
Fructo-oligosaccharides
FOS - moderately fermented fiber that feed the good bacteria in intestines
produces short-chain-fatty-acids that feed epithelial cells "fertilizer"
128
Manan-oligosaccharides
MOS - prebiotic protein that comes from cell walls of yeast
prevents bad bacteria from sticking to the intestinal wall "removing weeds"
129
Sodium aluminosilicate
Zeolite - inert clay from volcanic ash
creates a physical protective layer in the intestines
acts like a sieve - allows nutrients to be absorbed by the intestinal tract while absorbing extra water/toxins "baking soda"
130
Sodium tripolyphosphate
Ca chelator that prevents califcation plaque into tarter - acts like a magnet
also called Sodium Pyrophosphate/Sodium Hexametaphosphate "mouth wash"
