Nutrition in Young Children

Question 1

most rapid period of growth

Answer 1

• infancy, peak growth rate is in 1st year
• weight triples
• length increases by 50%

Question 2

differences in body composition changes between males and females during adolescence

Answer 2

• for females: % body fat increases

- for males: % lean muscle mass increases

Question 3

result of iron deficiency during infancy

Answer 3

• impair cognitive development and delay speech

Question 4

based on BMI percentiles, children are overweight if

Answer 4

• BMI > 85th percentile and < 95th percentile

Question 5

based on BMI percentiles, children are obese if

Answer 5

• BMI > 95th percentile

Question 6

height and weight in failure to thrive

Answer 6

• the rate of weight gain usually slows first, decrease gains in length/height occur later
• any drop or flattening of the weight or length/height curve warrants thorough investigation

Question 7

brain growth

Answer 7

• rapid, linear growth and development occurs during the first year of life
• brain and peripheral nervous tissues are especially sensitive to nutrient deficiencies

Question 8

critical nutrients for brain growth

Answer 8

• docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• choline
• taurine
• folate
• iron

Question 9

result of excess folate from dietary supplements

Answer 9

• may worsen a vitamin B12 deficiency

Question 10

most common nutrient deficiency

Answer 10

• iron

- can result in delayed speech, impaired growth, delayed cognitive development and anemia

Question 11

introducing solid foods

Answer 11

• infant usually reaches this stage around 6 months
• look for cues of readiness when an infant doubles their birth weight AND weighs at least 6kg (13 pounds)
• cues of readiness include: disappearance of extrusion reflex, hand-to-mouth movements, ability to sit with support, drinks from a cup, displays a chewing motion, reaches for foods

Question 12

transition to a mixed diet

Answer 12

• introduce iron-fortified cereals first
• then strained fruits and vegetables
• then strained meats and dairy products gradually increasing textures at each stage

Question 13

risk of completely liquid diet beyond 6 months

Answer 13

• increase the risk of iron and zinc deficiencies

Question 14

gold standard for treating diarrhea in children

Answer 14

• oral rehydration therapy (ORT): solutions specifically designed to utilize the SGLT-1 transporter to replace fluid and electrolytes rapdly

Question 15

oral rehydration solution should contain

Answer 15

• 75 mg/L sodium
• 13 mg/L carbohydrates
• osmolarity of 245 mOsm/L

Question 16

two processes that can generate non-essential AA

Answer 16

• transamination and amination

Question 17

vitamin B6: pyridoxine deficiency

Answer 17

• severe deficiency slows growth and damages cerebral and peripheral neurons

Question 18

marasmus

Answer 18

• lack of protein and lack of overall caloric intake

- emaciated appearance, apathy, lower body temperature

Question 19

Kwashiorkor

Answer 19

• caloric intake is adequate but protein intake is lacking

- distended abdomen, edematous limbs

Question 20

defective enzyme in PKU

Answer 20

• phenylalanine hydroxylase

Question 21

symptoms of PKU

Answer 21

• accumulation of toxic metabolites in brain and other tissues with excretion in urine
• severe, irreversible dementia if the condition is not treated immediately after birth by reducing the intake of phenylalanine

Question 22

defective enzyme in homocysteinemia

Answer 22

• cystathionine beta-synthase

Question 23

symptoms of homocysteinemia

Answer 23

• developmental eye abnormalities
• mental retardation
• thrombosis
• CV disease
• osteoporosis

Question 24

defective enzyme in maple syrup urine disesae

Answer 24

• branched-chain alpha-keto acid deyhdrogenase complex

- cannot catabolize valine, isoleucine, or leucine

Question 25

symptoms of maple syrup urine disease

Answer 25

• severe mental retardation and other defects unless they receive a special diet with a reduced content of these amino acids

Question 26

factors determining the quality of protein

Answer 26

• AA composition
• ability to sustain growth
• effect on nitrogen retention
• presence of anti-nutritive factors

Question 27

symptoms of iron deficiency

Answer 27

• microcytic anemia
• increased cancer risk
• delayed growth and brain development
• altered hair and nail texture
• impaired immune function

Question 28

symptoms of copper deficiency

Answer 28

• impairs brain function
• vascular and bone integrity
• metabolic control

Question 29

zinc deficiency

Answer 29

• growth retardation
• delayed wound healing
• immune dysfunction
• skin lesions
• general malnutrition
• anemia
• cognitive development
• delayed sexual maturation
• hypogonadism
• impaired taste
• decreased appetite

Question 30

vitamin A deficiency

Answer 30

• visual impairment
• loss of appetite
• susceptibility to infections