Nutrient Interaction

Question 1

What are nutrient-nutrient interactions?

Answer 1

Nutrients interact together in the body and could increase or decrease the absorption and metabolism of a specific nutrient.

Question 2

What are pharmacokinetics?

Answer 2

Pharmacokinetics describes absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs.

Question 3

Explain Drug-Nutrient Interactions (DNI)

Answer 3

When there are specific changes to the pharmacokinetics of a drug caused by foods and nutrients.
It is the physical, chemical, physiological and pathophysiological relationship between a drug and a nutrient.

Question 4

How can DNI cause nutrient depletion?

Answer 4

By disrupting absorption.
Increasing the excretion of one or more nutrients.

Question 5

Which group is at risk of DNI?

Answer 5

Older adults and those who take multiple medications (polypharmacy).
People taking medications along with dietary supplements.

Question 6

How do drugs influence nutritional status?

Answer 6

Ingestion
-Appetite
-Taste
Secretion
-Oral secretion
-Gastric acid secretion
Absorption
-Gastrointestinal drug metabolising enzymes
-Gastrointestinal transporters
Gastrointestinal motility
Gastrointestinal flora (immunity)
Nutrients metabolism
Nutrient excretion

Question 7

Mention some of the nutrition-related side effects of medication

Answer 7

Gastroitestinal (GI) distress
Blood sugar imbalance
Appetite changes
Weight gain or loss
Organ toxicity

Question 8

Explain the interaction between Grape Fruit and Cyclosporine and Felodipine

Answer 8

Inhibition of CYP3A4 metabolism as well as inhibition of uptake and efflux membrane transporters

Question 9

Explain Nutraceuticals

Answer 9

Nutraceuticals are products that, other than nutrition, are also used as medicine. It may be used to improve health, delay the ageing process, prevent chronic diseases, increase life expectancy, or support the structure or function of the body

Question 10

What is the frequency of Nutraceuticals use?

Answer 10

50% - 70% in developed countries. The population is increasing with age.

Question 11

What is functional food?

Answer 11

Whole foods, along with fortified, enriched, or enhanced foods that have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied regular basis at effective levels based on significant standards of evidence.

Question 12

What is the beneficial component of Turmeric, and what are its potential implications?

Answer 12

Curcumin. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties.

Question 13

What are the beneficial components of Fruit, Vegetables, chocolate, wine and tea, and what are their potential implications?

Answer 13

Flavonoids. Anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombogenic, antidiabetic, anticancer, and neuroprotective properties.

Question 14

What are the beneficial components of cruciferous vegetables, and what are their potential implications?

Answer 14

Ishothiocynates. Metabolism and elimination of xenobiotics (e.g. carcinogens) from the body, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Question 15

What are the beneficial components of legumes, unrefined vegetable oils, whole grains, nuts, seeds and enriched foods, and what are their potential implications?

Answer 15

Phytosterols and Viscous (soluble) Fibre. Reduction in LDL cholesterol, lower postprandial insulin and blood glucose levels.

Question 16

What are the beneficial components of soybeans/products, and what are their potential implications?

Answer 16

Soy isoflavones. Reduction in breast cancer, improved vascular function.

Question 17

What is Nutrigenomics?

Answer 17

It is the science that studies how naturally occurring chemicals in foods alter the molecular expression of genetic information in each individual.

Question 18

Direct interactions in Nutrient-Gene interactions:

Answer 18

Nutrients, sometimes after interacting with a receptor, behave as transcription factors that can bind to DNA and acutely induce gene expression.

Question 19

Epigenetic interactions in Nutrient-Gene interactions:

Answer 19

Nutrients can alter the structure of DNA so that gene expression is chronically altered.

Question 20

Genetic variations in Nutrient-Gene interactions:

Answer 20

Common genetic variations such as single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) can alter the expression or functionality of genes.

Question 21

Explain Genetic Expression

Answer 21

Gene expression means transcription, translation, and post-transcriptional and translational modifications in a sequential process. This leads to the synthesis of specific proteins, which may be enzymes, hormones or other active proteins.

Question 22

What is the end product of gene expression?

Answer 22

Protein, which may have a specific physiological or biochemical function in the body.

Question 23

Which factors influence gene expression?

Answer 23

Transcriptional, translational, posttranscriptional, and translational modification factors and its regulators and environmental factors.

Question 24

Mention some nutrients that alter gene expression

Answer 24

Fatty acids, flavonoids and protein.

Question 25

Which vitamin prevents gene variation?

Answer 25

Vitamin D (Calciferol)

Question 26

Explain “Genome Health Nutrigenomics”

Answer 26

It deals with how nutritional deficiency or excess can cause genome mutations at the base sequence or chromosomal level.

Question 27

What is the aim of “Genome Health Nutrigenomics”?

Answer 27

To define the optimal dietary intake and tissue culture medium concentration to maintain damage to the genome at its lowest possible level.

Question 28

Which nutrients inhibit the absorption of iron?

Answer 28

Phytates, saponins, tannins and lectines

Question 29

Which nutrient-gene interaction can alter the structure of DNA so that the gene expression is chronically altered?

Answer 29

Epigenetic interactions