Nutrition Flashcards
What are the common nutritional deficiencies of alcoholics?
thiamine, pyridoxine, folate (from fresh produce), vitamin A&C, PEM (protein-energy malnutrition)
Do we store vit B12 in our bodies?
Yes
We have about a 5 year supply in our livers
How is malnutrition defined?
Often by BMI less than 16 (normal 18.5-25)
What is marasmus?
PEM due to starvation
Deficient in all calories
Catabolize somatic protein (skeletal muscle) for energy
Decreased arm circumference
Leptin decreased
Look emaciated–broomstick extremities, large head
Serum albumin is normal or slightly reduced
Anemic, vitamin deficient
Immune deficient => infection => death
Lethargic, if prolonged, short stature
Should re-feeding of marasmus people include milk?
No, marasmus patients are uniformly lactose intolerant
What is Kwashiorkor and some causes in the US?
Malnutrition due to reduction in protein. Diets where most calories are carbs.
Can occur in US from protein loss:
Chronic diarrhea
Protein-losing enteropathy
Nephrotic syndrome loss of albumin through the urine
Extensive burns, trauma, sepsis
Maladaptive and more severe than marasmus
Clinical manifestations of kwashiorkor
Weight loss masked by edema (anasarca–generalized edema)
Sparing of subQ fat and muscle, loss of visceral protein
Fatty liver because can’t make the apoproteins needed to remove triglycerides
Tend to die from low immunity => infection
Depigmentation of the skin because can’t make melanin (also seen in marasmus)
Anemia, small intestine villous atrophy, flaky paint appearnace, alternating pale and dark hair from pigment loss, irritability
Angular cheilitis from B vit deficiency.
Hypoalbuminemia
Why does the liver get fatty during starvation?
Liver can’t produce the proteins needed to export fat from the liver so it builds up and accumulates.
What are some major complications to malnutrition?
Delayed wound healing
Risk infection and sepsis
Increased postop death
General info on Bulimia
Behavioral disorder
Involves bingeing and purging in one way or another–this can include excessive exercise
Generally onset in adolescence and in women
Weight kept near normal
Patient is bulimic and vomits often, presents with hematemesis that resolves spontaneously, what is going on?
Repeated retching causes Mallory-Weiss tears that are longitudinal tears in the esophagus that heal spontaneously
Bulimia complications
Vomiting => hypokalemia => cardiac arrhythmias Pulmonary aspiration => pneumonia Mallory-Weiss tears => Boerhave Syndrome Parotid gland hyperplasia => increased serum amylase Dental erosion Russell sign Amenorrhea uncommon Anemia
General info on Anorexia Nervosa
Considered a Psych problem involving body image and perceptual disturbances
Highest death rate of any psych disease
Anorexia nervosa clinical signs
Amenorrhea
Sick Euthyroid= act hypothyroid without measuring hypothyroid because of reverse T3. Causes cold intolerance, bradycardia, constipation, changes in skin and hair (lanugo)
Low bone density => osteoporosis
Anemia
Hypokalemia
Loss of gray matter
May still purge or exercise excessively
GI: early satiety, pancreatic fibrosis, malabsorptive diarrhea on refeeding
CV: thinning left ventricle, hypotension, sudden death from arrhythmia
What are the fat soluble vitamins?
ADEK
These are deficient in any condition that causes steatorrhea
How many water soluble vitamins are there?
9
Endogenous synthesis of vitamins
Vit D from precursor steroids
Vit K from biotin from intestinal flora
Niacin from tryptophan
Remainder must be ingested!
Which vitamins are energy releasing?
Thiamine–B1
Riboflavin–B2
Niacin–B3
Which vitamins are hematopoeietic?
Folic acid
Vit B12
Vit A types and sources
Vit A can come from 2 sources: meat where it is preformed, and vegetables in the form of carotenes and pro-vit-A that must be converted to retionoids
How is Vit A taken up and stored in the body?
Absorbed through the gut as a fat soluble vitamin. Taken up by Ito cells and stored in the liver (6 month supply). RBP (Retinol Binding Protein) transports retinol
Functions of Vit A
Maintains normal vision (every time a photon hits rhodopsin retinol is lost and must be replaced)
Signals cell growth and differentiation via RAR/RXR receptor
Activates osteoclasts
Aids host in resistance to infection
Binding activates nuclear receptors for drug metabolism
Vit A deficiency causes
General malnutrition
Malabsorption of fats:
-bile and pancreatic enzyme deficiencies
-Celiac, crohn, surgical resection of intestine
Depletion during infection–kids
Elderly: use of mineral oil laxative
Orlistat therapy for obesity (prevents fat absorption)
Signs of Vit A deficiency
Night Blindness
Higher death rate from measles, pneumonia, diarrhea
Squamous metaplasia => corneal ulcers, bitot spots in conjunctiva (tangles of keratin mixed with gas-forming bacteria), keratomalacia (corneal lesions), lung cancer, pancreatic duct problems, urinary tract stones, follicular hyperkeratosis of skin
Acute Vit A toxicity
Retinoid-induced cerebral hypertension causing symptoms suggestive of a brain tumor:
- Headache, vomiting
- Stupor
- Papilledema
Carotemia acute and chronic:
- reversible yellowing of the skin
- resembles jaundice but doesn’t affect the sclerae