Nutrients Flashcards
What is a carbohydrate?
• Molecules made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
• Two main types:
➢Complex
➢Simple
• Primary function = energy
What are simple carbohydrates?
• Stripped of natural fibres and nutrients
• Easy to absorb
• Broken down quickly
What are complex carbohydrates?
• Whole, unprocessed food
• Slow break down
What are monosaccharides?
• Simple sugar
• Single sugar unit
• All have the same chemical formula
C6H12O6
• Glucose
• Fructose
• Galactose
What are disaccharides?
• 2 monosaccharide units
• Dehydration reaction
• Sucrose = Glucose + Fructose
• Maltose = Glucose + Glucose
• Lactose = Glucose + Galactose
What are polysaccharides?
• Long chain of monosaccharides
• Starch
➢Main form of carb storage in plants ➢Alpha-glucose
• Cellulose
➢Plant cell walls
➢Beta glucose
➢Not digested by most animals
➢Acts as fibre
➢Main source of energy for ruminants
• Glycogen
➢Store of energy
➢Created in body
➢Stored in liver and muscles
➢Any not used – converted into fat
What carbohydrates are in dog and cat food?
• Dry feed: 30-70% carbohydrate
• Wild canines – 30% of diet
• Wild felines – 5% of diet
Why is the carbohydrate percentage so high?
• Carbohydrates provide same energy as protein
• Carbohydrate sources cheaper than protein
• Energy requirements are met with carbs
Why can obesity occur by carbohydrate ingestion?
➢More energy ingested than expended
➢Glycogen not broken down into glucose stored as fat
➢Linked to other health issues (i.e., with the heart)
Why can diabetes occur by carbohydrate ingestion?
➢Can be due to genetics/immune disorders
➢Also due to high consumption of carbohydrates
➢Lack of insulin
➢Bladder/kidney/skin infections, cataracts, weakness and abnormal gait
What is a protein?
• Essential components of all living cells
• Composed of amino acids
What are amino acids?
• Small molecule
• Basic building blocks of
life
• 21 amino acids
What are essential amino acids in dogs?
• Phenylalanine
• Methionine
• Valine
• Histidine
• Tryptophan
• Argenine
• Threonine
• Leucine
• Isoleucine
• Lysine
What are the different amino acid combinations?
Peptide – short chain of amino acids
Dipeptide – 2 amino acids combined
Polypeptide – combination of 10+ amino acids
What are the essential amino acids in cats?
• The same as for dog, except cats also require:
➢Taurine
• Inadequate levels of
Taurine can lead to:
➢Irreversible blindness
➢Heart problems
• Only obtained from animal protein
What is the function of a protein?
• Regulate metabolism
• Source of dietary
energy
• Enzymes are proteins
• Structure of cell membranes
• Structure of muscle
• Tissue growth and
repair
• Main role in hormone production
What happens if there is too much protein ingested?
• Negative effect: kidneys
• Excess nitrogen
• Weight gain
• Juveniles: quick weight gain – abnormal joint development
What happens if there is too little protein ingested?
• Poor coat
• Stunted growth
• Weight loss
• Anaemic
What are the different protein levels in manufactured animal feed?
• Puppy/ Kitten Food- high
• Maintenance diet (cat/dog)- medium
• Senior diet (cat/dog)- low
• Poultry layers pellets- high
• Poultry growers pellets- high
• Poultry maintenance pellets- medium
What are essential amino acids?
➢Obtained from diet
What are non- essential amino acids?
➢Synthesised in body
• Different species have different requirements
What is the function of lipids?
▪Found throughout body
▪Form of energy
▪Insulation
▪Organ protection
▪Hormones and steroids composition
▪Cell membrane
▪Stores fat-soluble
vitamins
▪ Coat condition/waterproofing
What is the difference between essential vs non- essential lipids?
▪ESSENTIAL
▪Obtained from diet
▪Omega-3 and Omega-6
▪NON-ESSENTIAL
▪Can be made in the body, not essential from diet
▪Stearic acid
What is the structure of fatty acids?
➢Monomer = small unit from which larger units are made
➢Polymer = larger unit made up of monomers
▪Monomer = fatty acid
▪Polymer = lipid
▪Hydrocarbon
chain
▪Carboxyl group
▪2 types:
➢Saturated
➢Unsaturated
What are the sources of lipids?
▪ Meat
▪Fish
▪Plant Oils
▪Excess carbohydrates are stored as fats
Why is the structure of saturated fatty acids?
▪Fatty acid – no double bonds
▪Solid at room temperature
▪Unhealthy
▪Dairy and red meat
What is the structure of unsaturated fatty acids?
Tail contains double bonds
▪Liquid at room temperature
▪Often made from seeds e.g., sunflower oil
▪Mono-unsaturated
➢Nuts, avocado, olive oil
▪ Poly-unsaturated
➢Vegetable oil, oily fish
What is the lipid structure?
Head and tail
▪Tail = fatty acid
▪Head = carbohydrate
▪E.g., Triglyceride
➢3 fatty acids
➢Glycerol
➢Most common lipid
➢From diet + formed in liver
What happens if there is a lack of essential fatty acids?
▪Impaired reproductive performance
▪Slower wound healing
▪Weak immune system
▪Dry coat
▪Scaly skin
▪Bacterial skin infections
