Nutrition Flashcards
What should optimal nutrition provide enough nutrients for?
*Prevent deficiency
*Optimise body stores
*Optimise biochemical/physiological function
*Optimise a risk factor for some chronic disease
*Minimise incidence of a disease
What is the recommended amount of units for an adult?
14
How much folic acid should a pregnant lady have in the first trimester?
400ug OD
Can organic compounds be synthesised within the body?
No
What are the functions of Ca, Mg and P?
Structural - bones and teeth
What does iron do?
*Haemoglobin
*Myoglobin (Muscle)
*Cytochrome P450s
*Catalase
*Peroxidase
*Cell growth and differentiation
How is Vitamin B12 absorbed?
The stomach produces an intrinsic factor, for receptor mediated endocytosis in the terminal ileum.
How are fat soluble vitamins absorbed?
Carried in micelles and absorbed passively with end products of fat digestion - monoglyceryl
Why are calcium and Iron absorption tightly regulated?
As too much Ca/Fe can damage cells
Explain how Iron is absorbed from dietary intake?
1) A person eats 10mg of iron
2) 1mg of iron is absorbed into the gut epithelial cells
3) Plasma transferrin iron carries 3-4mg of Iron around
4) The bone marrow, RBC precursors –> Tissue iron –> Iron lost from the body (1mg)
5) Iron circulates in RBCs (2500mg)
6) Goes to the Spleen and reticulo endothelial macrophages
7) then back to the plasma
How much iron is within the Iron stores?
300-1000mg
What is Iron stored as?
*Ferritin
*Hemosiderin
-If not stored damages DNA
How is Iron absorption tightly regulated?
Through the transport of proteins involved in the absorption of iron in the lumen of the gut.
*Haem carrier protein 1 - Haem Iron
*Divalent metal transport - Non-Haem iron - Carry iron into the epithelial cells
-This allows iron to be absorbed into the cell
Which is then stored as ferritin or transported by ferapartan into the bleed stream bound to transferrin
Vitamin C in the same meal as Iron increases absorption, Why is this?
Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant which reduces Fe3+ to Fe2+
Ferric –> Haem Iron
What happens to a patient who is anaemic?
*Hypochromic (Pale)
*Microcytic RBC (Small RBC)
What can being anaemic do to the body?
*Decreased immunity
*If severe - Heart failure
What Vitamin affects the use and absorption of iron within the body?
Vitamin A
What can giving an iron supplement do to someone who has normal stores of Iron already?
Can damage tissues
What condition affects iron storage?
Haemochromatosis
What genetic condition affects the globin chain synthesis, and often requires blood transfusions often?
Thalassaemia
What treatment can be given to someone with Iron Overload?
*Iron chelators - Desferrioxamine
*Desferiprone and Desferisarox - but has more side effects
A food or ingredient that provides medical or health benefits, including prevention and treatment of disease. This can include dietary supplements and functional foods. What is this describing?
Nutraceutical
Something which maintains health and prevents deficiency is known as?
Dietary Supplement
An ingredient that gives a health benefit beyond its usual nutritional value is known as?
Functional food
Why would someone take nutraceuticals?
-Healthy lifestyle and increased awareness
-Prevent or decrease disease
-Media coverage
-Ageing population
-Increase in scientific evidence linking diet and health or disease prevention
Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, Zinc, Carotenoids and Flavonoids are examples of what?
Anti-oxidants
I am mainly in fish oils, and can have an effect on skin, cholesterol levels and inflammatory mediators - health claim is to help the heart and inflammation. NICE don’t recommend me. What am I?
Omega-3
What do Phytosterols do?
Plant stanols and sterols; lower the absorption of cholesterol by competing with cholesterol. Reduces LDL cholesterol.
Probiotics, live non-pathogenic microorganisms when given in adequate amounts have a health benefit on the host, how do they get into the body?
They are resistant to acid digestion.
What factors can influence the effect that micronutrients nutraceuticals have?
*Behaviour
*Genetic factors
*Adverse effects
*Nutrient interactions
*Bioavailability (heat can destroy)
*Active form (Processed etc..)
*Processing
*Drug interactions
*Physiological state
