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Yr 2 - GI & Metabolism > Intro to Nutrition > Flashcards

Intro to Nutrition Flashcards

1
Q

What is EAR?

A

Estimated Average Requirement

Half the population usually needs more than this, and half usually needs less

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2
Q

What is LRNI?

A

Lower Reference Nutrient Intake

Sufficient for the few people who have low needs, but not meeting the needs of 97.5% of the population (2 standard deviations below the EAR)

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3
Q

What is RNI?

A

Reference Nutrient Intake

Sufficient for about 97.5% of people (2 standard deviations above the EAR). If the average intake of a population is at RNI, the risk of deficiency is very small

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4
Q

What is safe intake?

A

Range for which there is not enough information to estimate RNI, EAR or LRNI. Sufficient for almost everyone, but not so large as to cause undesirable effects.

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5
Q

What is key to maintaining a healthy weight?

A

Energy balance

Energy intake = energy expenditure

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6
Q

What does energy expenditure depend on?

A
  • Basic metabolic rate (depends on age, weight & sex)

* Amount and intensity of physical activity

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7
Q

What are macronutrients?

A

Fats, carbohydrates and proteins

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8
Q

Can protein be stored? What happens in starvation?

A

No storage of protein, but in starvation muscle tissue can be metabolised for energy or to provide amino acids for other reactions

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9
Q

Can excess carbs and fats be stored?

A

Excess carbohydrates and fats can be stored. Can be used immediately for energy generation

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10
Q

What is the body’s main source of energy?

A

Fat stores are main source of energy (80-90%)

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11
Q

How much protein does an average adult require a day?

A

Around 0.75g per kg per day (75kg man requires about 50g protein/day)

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12
Q

How much protein is an athlete/body builder recommended?

A

1.2-1.7 g per kg per day

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13
Q

What is the nitrogen balance in a healthy adult?

A

Nitrogen intake = nitrogen excretion

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14
Q

What is a negative nitrogen balance? When does it occur?

A

Intake < excretion

Occurs during fasting/illness – body breaking down proteins for energy

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15
Q

What is a positive nitrogen balance? When does it occur?

A

Intake > excretion

Occurs during growth, pregnancy – body is building new tissue

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16
Q

What 9 amino acids cannot be synthesised by humans? How are they obtained?

A

Many Very Happy Little Pigs Take Iced Lemon Tea (MVHLPTILT)

o	Methionine
o	Valine
o	Histidine
o	Leucine
o	Phenylalanine
o	Tryptophan
o	Isoleucine
o	Lysine
o	Threonine

Must be obtained from diet

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17
Q

What is triacylglyercol?

A

A triglyceride (TG, triacylglycerol, TAG, or triacylglyceride) is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids

The main constituents of body fat in humans and other vertebrates, as well as vegetable fat.

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18
Q

How many calories does 1g of fat compared to 1g of carb/protein provide?

A

Fat –> 9kcal

Carb/protein –> 4kcal

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19
Q

What is adipose tissue? What is its role?

A

Adipose tissue, or fat, is an anatomical term for loose connective tissue composed of adipocytes. Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat, although it also protects vital organs and gives our body and face their shape.

Adipose tissue can store an unlimited amount of fat.

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20
Q

What are the different fatty acids that triacylglycerols contain?

A
  • Saturated
  • Mono-unsaturated
  • Polyunsaturated
  • Trans (hydrogenated)
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21
Q

Describe saturated fatty acids

A

No double bonds, found in meat and dairy

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22
Q

Describe mono-unsaturated fatty acids

A

One double bond, found in olive and peanut oil

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23
Q

Describe polyunsaturated fatty acids

A

More than 1 double bond, found in corn and sunflower oil

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24
Q

Describe trans (hydrogenated) fatty acids

A

Trans double bonds, found in cakes, biscuits, pastry

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25
Q

What are the recommended % of dietary energy intake for fat types?

A

Saturated - 11%
Mono - 12%
Poly - 6%
Trans - <2%

Total fat <35% (30% desirable)

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26
Q

Which fatty acids can the body not synthesise?

A

Omega 6 and omega 3

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27
Q

What are the types of carbohydrates?

A
  1. Polysaccharides – mainly starch
  2. Disaccharides – mainly sucrose
  3. Monosaccharides – mainly glucose and fructose
  4. Non-starch polysaccharide (dietary fibre)
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28
Q

What are vitamins? What amounts are they required in?

A

Organic compounds required for normal metabolic function, which cannot be synthesised in the body – deficiency results in disease which can be treated by restoring appropriate levels of the compound

Required in small amounts (µg – mg)

29
Q

What is function of vitamins?

A
  • Most coveted into molecules that act as coenzymes
  • Others act as transcriptional regulators and signalling molecules
  • Some act as antioxidants
30
Q

Which vitamins act as coenzymes?

A

All B vitamins, C and K

31
Q

What vitamins act as transcriptional regulators and signalling molecules?

32
Q

What vitamins act as antioxidants?

A

A, C and E

33
Q

Which vitamins are fat soluble?

A

E, K, A, D

34
Q

Which vitamins are water soluble?

A

B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C

35
Q

What is vitamin B1? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Thiamin

Cofactor in decarboxylation reactions (CO2) released – e.g. link reaction, Krebs cycle

Beri –beri; muscle weakness, nerve damage, can affect heart

36
Q

What is vitamin B2? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Riboflavin

Constituent of cofactors e.g. flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD); involved in many aspects of metabolism, fats, carbohydrates, proteins

Very rare – cofactors bind tightly to enzymes and efficiently conserved

37
Q

What is vitamin B3? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Niacin

Constituent of cofactors e.g. NADH

Pellagra – diarrhoea, depression, dermatitis, death

38
Q

What is vitamin B5?

A

Pantothenic acid

Constituent of coenzyme A – energy metabolism, fat metabolism

Unknown – found in almost all foods

39
Q

What is vitamin B7? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Biotin

Prosthetic group. Acts as carrier for CO2 in carboxylation reactions e.g. fat synthesis

Very rare

40
Q

What is vitamin B6? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Pyridoxal phosphate

Cofactor for enzymes involved in protein metabolism, haem synthesis, neurotransmitter synthesis; modulates steroid hormone action

Irritability, depression, and confusion; inflammation of tongue or mouth

41
Q

What is vitamin B9? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Folic acid

1-C transfers, particularly in DNA synthesis

Neural tube defects – spina bifida, anencephaly, macrocytic anaemia

42
Q

What is vitamin B12? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Cobalamin

Required for only 2 reactions (methionine synthesis, odd-chain fatty acid metabolism)
Only found in animal products

Macrocytic anaemia,
irreversible neurological damage.
Commonly caused by autoimmune disease preventing absorption

43
Q

What is vitamin C? What is its role? What is the effect of deficiency?

A

Collagen synthesis. Also role as antioxidant

Scurvy – symptoms caused by weakened collagen

44
Q

What is vitamin A? Deficiency?

A

Vision (rod cell function). Transcriptional regulator

Blindness, susceptibility to infection, birth defects

45
Q

What is vitamin D? Deficiency?

A

Bone formation & maintenance; also roles in immune regulation, cell differentiation, muscle function

Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults.

46
Q

What is vitamin E? Deficiency?

A

Acts as an anti-oxidant; its main role is to prevent lipid oxidation in membranes

Deficiency in fat malabsorption (e.g. CF), causes neurological problems

47
Q

What is vitamin K? Deficiency?

A

Cofactor for enzymes which activate blood clotting proteins. May also be involved in bone maintenance

Rare in healthy adults. Deficiency in newborns causes bleeding; babies given vitamin K at birth.

48
Q

What are the key minerals?

A 
Iron
Iodine
Zinc
Fluoride
Calcium 
Phosphate
Magnesium
49
Q

What are the trace elements?

A

Cobalt, copper, chromium, manganese, selenium

50
Q

What is function of sodium and potassium?

A

Major electorates within cells (K+) and in extracellular fluid (Na+)

51
Q

What is the recommended sodium intake?

52
Q

What are major dietary sources of salt?

A

Processed food?

Bread, cereals, processed meat, ready meals

53
Q

What can a high sodium intake lead to?

A

Contributes considerably to the risk of cardiovascular disease

54
Q

How can inadequate intake lead to nutritional deficiency?

A
  • Food availability (poverty, disability)
  • Food choices (cost, convenience, limited range, vegans)
  • Problems with eating (sore mouth, dysphagia, eating disorders)
55
Q

How can inadequate absorption lead to nutritional deficiency?

A
  • Problems with fat absorption affects fat soluble vitamins (cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease)
  • Pernicious anaemia (B12 absorption)
56
Q

What can iron deficiency anaemia arise from?

A

A result of persistent blood loss – gastric ulceration, colon cancer, excessive menstrual loss
- Pregnancy

57
Q

What can a folic acid deficiency be due to?

58
Q

Globally, what deficiencies are most important?

A

Iron, vitamin A, iodine and zinc

59
Q

What can a vitamin A deficiency lead to?

60
Q

What % of Europe has an insufficient iodine intake?

A

More than 50%

61
Q

Definition of malnutrition?

A

Characterised by inadequate or excess intake of protein, energy, and micronutrients such as vitamins & minerals

62
Q

What are the clinical effects of malnutrition?

A
  1. Neurological/metabolic
  2. Cardiac/haematological
  3. Respiratory
  4. GI
  5. Reproductive
  6. Hepatic/renal
  7. Immunity
  8. Musculoskeletal/integumentary

QUALITY OF LIFE

63
Q

Who does a vitamin C deficiency still affect?

A

Most of the UK population obtain well over the RNI for vitamin C (NDNS 2019)

Vitamin C deficiency within UK’s low-income population

64
Q

What can a vitamin D deficiency lead to?

A

Osteomalacia (adults) & rickets (children)

Also possibly in increased risk of:

  • Auto-immune diseases (MS, type 1 diabetes)
  • Some cancers (breast, colon ovarian, rectal & prostate cancer)
  • Muscle weakness/falls in adults > 50
65
Q

What can cause a vitamin B12 deficiency?

A
  • Vegans not taking supplements
  • Prolonged treatment with acid-blocking drugs (e.g. PPIs) affects as many as 20% of the elderly population, can affect absorption
66
Q

What can vitamin B12 deficiency lead to?

A

B12 deficiency can cause anaemia, but also serious, and irreversible neurological damage. Common symptoms include numbness and tingling of toes and fingertips

If untreated, more serious symptoms include limb weakness, poor coordination, altered gait, incontinence …. death

67
Q

Why is there an increased requirement for folic acid in pregnancy?

A

DNA synthesis

Pregnant women and women trying for a baby should take 400μg of folic acid daily until 12th week of pregnancy.

68
Q

What can folic acid deficiency in pregnant women lead to?

A

Neural tube defects – anencephaly/spina bifida - incidence can be significantly decreased by folate supplementation (USA add folate to flour)

69
Q

What can an inadequate iodine status in pregnancy lead to?

A

Affects cognitive outcomes in children

Yr 2 - GI & Metabolism (51 decks)

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