Nutrition Flashcards
Define obesity
An obese individual is someone with a BMI over 30
What are the six essential chemical nutrients for a healthy diet?
Water Essential fatty acids Essential amino acids Fibre Carbohydrates Vitamins and minerals
What are the three clinical forms of acute malnutition?
Marasmus Kwashiorkor Marasmatic kwashiorkor
Describe the causes and features of marasmus
Characterised by severe wasting of fat and muscle which the body metabolises as an energy source. Caused by a rapid deterioration in nutritional status. Complications include heart failure, reduced liver, renal function, recurrent infections. Presents as skin-and-bones appearance,
Define basal metabolic rate
The energy required to perform fundamental metabolic processes such as breathing, transport, cellular turnover etc
Define factors which affect BMR
Age, sex, weight, trauma/disease
Give three examples of conditional nutrients
Conditional nutrients are nutrients which may be required from the diet if the body is unable to produce sufficient levels on it’s own. Examples include Carnitine, Inositol, Folate
Define the form and function of vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds which are required by the body in limited amounts. Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions which cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient amounts. Essential for normal growth and development
what is the dietary fate or protein, carb, fat
Proteins are broken down into amino acids, carbohydrates into monosaccharides, fats into fatty acids and glycerols.
What are the factors that contribute to obesity
Age Sex Diet Genetics Mental health Physical activity
Name three uses of essential fatty acids
Required for membrane fluidity, fat metabolism and transport and synthesis of prostaglandins.
Name the 6 essential nutrients required in the diet
Water Calories (carbohydrates and fat) Essential amino acids Essential fatty acids Vitamins and Minerals Fibre
Give two examples of micronutrient deficiencies
Vitamin A deficiency: Vitamin A (retinol) produces retinol required for the formation of rhodopsin, also plays a role in normal growth and differentiation of cells. Deficiency is the most common cause of preventable blindness in children.
Iron defiency: Important co-factor, forms part of the protoporphryn ring of haeme, binds oxygen in Hb. Deficiency causes anaemia
Vitamin C: Important co-factor for procollagenase enzymes. Deficiency results in a lack of hydroxylation of proline and lysine, leading to poor cross-linking and instable collagen fibres. Scurvy.
Give an example of carbohydrate intolerance
Lactose intolerance: Lactose broken down into glucose and galactose by lactase enzyme. Lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to sufficiently digest lactose and so it is malabsorbed. In individuals with a deficient lactase enzyme, lactose is not broken down, causing diarrohoea, bloating and flatulence. In individuals with “true” lactose intolerance have a normal lactase enzyme but galactose is not broken down. Build up in the body leads to liver impairment and cataracts. Neonates fail to thrive.
Fructose intolerance: Fructose normally enters the glycolysis pathway in cells by being phosphorylated to fructose-6P by hexokinase. When glucose concentrations are high it is metabolised in the liver by fructokinase to Fructose-1P then phophofructoaldolase to DHAP and glyceraldehyde, In fructosurea lack of fructokinase means there is no fructose uptake and it is lost in the urine. If the phophofructoaldolase enzyme is absent then F-1P accumulates in the liver and lowers the phosphate supply. This shuts off glycolysis and leads to tissue damage
What is the main function of cholesterol?
Cholesterol is used for the biosynthesis of steroid hormones.