Nutrition

Question 1

describe visceral fat

Answer 1

• visceral and abdominal fat: fatty acids and cytokines are released into the portal vein, are taken up by the liver and can contribute to higher VLDL in the blood
  
  • central obesity/apple shape

Question 2

describe subcutaneous fat

Answer 2

• fatty acids released from subcutaneous fat enters general circulation and is used up by muscle prior to reaching the liver
  
  • pear shape

Question 3

describe metabolic syndrome

Answer 3

• defined as a clustering of atherosclerotic and cardiovascular disease risk factors
  
  • elevated fasting blood glucose: > 100mg/dL
  • elevated waist circum.: > 40 inches men, >35 women
  • elevated TAGs: >150 mg/dL
  • reduced HDL: <40 mg/dL men, <50 mg/dL women
  • elevated BP: >130 mm/80 mm Hg

Question 4

describe glycemic index

Answer 4

• quantitates the time course of rise and decline of blood glucose after a meal
  
  • refined sugars (high glycemic index) will raise serum glucose more rapidly than others and the decline in serum glucose will also be steeper

Question 5

describe a benefit of fiber

Answer 5

• decreases absorption of dietary fat and cholesterol
  
  • increases fecal loss of cholesterol

Question 6

name the antioxidant vitamins

Answer 6

• vit. c
• vit. e
• B-caroten

Question 7

what helps to break down and lower homocysteine in the body?

Answer 7

• Folate, B6 and B12 help break down and lower homocysteine in the body
• high homocysteine: related to atherosclerosis and CHD