Human nutrition and nutritional disorders

Question 1

Importance of vitamin A.

Answer 1

Generates light sensitive pigment in the retina. (Good vision)
Normal growth.
Healthy nerve function.

Prevents; skin problems, unhealthy hair, port vision, and night blindness.

Question 2

Deficiency in vitamin A.

Answer 2

Night blindness, xerophthalmia, and keratomalacia.

Question 3

Importance of vitamin D.

Answer 3

Increases calcium and phosphate absorption.

Question 4

Deficiency in vitamin D.

Answer 4

Osteoporosis in adults.
Rickets in children.

Characterised by; softening of developing bone, bow leg, malnutrition, and enlargement of liver and spleen.

Question 5

Importance of vitamin B1.

Answer 5

Needed for aerobic respiration.

Question 6

Deficiency in vitamin B1.

Answer 6

Beri beri. May affect systems of the body including skin, muscle, heart, nerves, and digestive system.

Question 7

Importance of vitamin C.

Answer 7

Repairs wounds.

Question 8

Deficiency in vitamin C.

Answer 8

Scurvy.

Question 9

Importance of calcium.

Answer 9

Component of bone and teeth.

Question 10

Deficiency in calcium.

Answer 10

Osteomalacia, hypocalcemia, infantile rickets, and adult osteomalacia.

Question 11

Importance of iron.

Answer 11

Formation of haemoglobin.

Question 12

Deficiency in haemoglobin.

Answer 12

Anaemia.

Question 13

Importance of fats and lipids ( eg. Cholesterol).

Answer 13

-insulation and heat
-energy
-hormones
-absorption, transportation, and storage of fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K

Question 14

Importance of carbohydrates.

Answer 14

Provides energy and heat.

Question 15

Deficiency in carbohydrates.

Answer 15

-weight gain
-stored as fat and glycogen (liver and muscles)
-diabetes

Question 16

Importance of proteins and amino acids.

Answer 16

-growth and repair
-produces enzymes, membranes, antibodies, and hormones
-provides energy

Question 17

What is fibre?

Answer 17

A non-starch polysaccharide (NSP).
It’s not a nutrient.
It cannot be digested.
It’s not needed for energy.

Question 18

Two types of protein related malnutrition.

Answer 18

Marasmus and kwashiorkor.

Question 19

Symptoms of marasmus.

Answer 19

-thin
-loss of muscle bulk
-No subcutaneous fat
-loose skin folds
-floppy buttocks
-miserable and restless
-apathy and lethargy

Question 20

Symptoms of kwashiorkor.

Answer 20

-oedema
-loss of lushly and fat masked by oedema
-anorexia
-abdominal distension
-hair losing colour
-irritable and miserable
-skin cracks, fragile, and prone to infection
-acutly sick

Question 21

What are the macronutrients?

Answer 21

Carbs, fats, and proteins.

Question 22

What are the micronutrients?

Answer 22

Minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids.

Question 23

Importance of vitamin K.

Answer 23

Helps blood clotting.

Question 24

Deficiency in vitamin K.

Answer 24

Easy bruising and nosebleeds.

Question 25

Importance of vitamin B2.

Answer 25

Promote healthy growth, tissue repair, and helps release energy from carbs. (Help with other B vitamins)

Question 26

Deficiency in vitamin B2.

Answer 26

-red, scaly, painful skin
-angular stomatitis
-cheilosis
-mouth ulcers

Question 27

Importance of vitamin B3.

Answer 27

Help release energy form carbs. (Help from other B vitamins).

Question 28

Deficiency in vitamin B3.

Answer 28

Pellagra. Characterised by dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia, and death.

Cause due to weakness, poor appetite, and indigestion.

Question 29

Importance of vitamin B12.

Answer 29

Metabolism, formation of blood cells, and maintenance of CNS including brain and spinal cord.

Question 30

Deficiency in vitamin B12.

Answer 30

Megaloblastic anaemia. Red blood cells are large, irregular, and fragile. (Associated with vegan diet).

Pernicious anaemia. Autoimmune disease causes damage to cells that produce intrinsic factor needed for B12 absorption.

Question 31

Symptoms for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Answer 31

-depression
-pale skin
-sore tongue
-palpitations
-memory loss
-weight loss
-hallucinations
-muscle weakness
-digestive issues