Nutrition Overview

Question 1

What is a nutrient?

Answer 1

A chemical substance that provides energy to the body. Can reduce the risk of some diseases and helps maintain body tissue.

Question 2

What are the six major nutrients?

Answer 2

Carbs, lipids (fats), proteins, vitamins, minerals, water

Question 3

What are the energy-providing nutrients?

Answer 3

Carbs, fats and proteins

Question 4

What are the types of nutrition study designs?

Answer 4

Epidemiological studies (cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, cohort studies) and experimental studies (laboratory-based animal studies, laboratory-based in vitro studies, human intervention ((or clinical)) trials)

Question 5

What do epidemiological studies do?

Answer 5

Research the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases in a population.

Question 6

What do experimental studies do?

Answer 6

Test cause-and-effect relationships between variables, including laboratory-based studies—on animals or in test tubes (in vitro)—and human intervention (or clinical) trials.

Question 7

What do researchers do in cross-sectional studies?

Answer 7

They observe how much and what types of food a group of people eat and how healthy those people are. Findings identify factors that influence the incidence of disease in various populations.

Question 8

What do researchers do in case-control studies?

Answer 8

Compare people who do and do not have a given condition such as a disease, closely matching them in age, gender and other key variables so differences in other factors will stand out.

Question 9

What do researchers do in cohort studies?

Answer 9

Analyze data collected from a select group of people (a cohort) at intervals over a certain period of time.

Question 10

What are the strengths of epidemiological studies?

Answer 10

1) Can narrow down the list of possible causes
2) Can raise questions to pursue through other research

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of epidemiological studies?

Answer 11

1) Cannot control variables that influence the development of or prevention of a disease
2) Cannot prove cause and effect

Question 12

What do researchers do in laboratory-based animal studies?

Answer 12

Feed animals special diets and observe any changes to their health after omitting specific nutrients. Conditions can be controlled in a laboratory and this allows for them to test possible disease causes.

Question 13

What do researchers do in laboratory-based in vitro studies?

Answer 13

Examine the effects of a specific variable on a tissue, cell, or molecule isolated from a living organism.

Question 14

What do researchers do in human intervention (or clinical) trials?

Answer 14

Ask people to adopt a new behavior to determine the effects of such interventions on the development or prevention of diseases.

Question 15

What are the strengths of experimental studies?

Answer 15

1) Can control conditions (mostly)
2) Can determine effects of the variable
3) Can apply some findings on human beings to some groups of human beings

Question 16

What are the weaknesses of experimental studies?

Answer 16

1) Can’t apply results from test tubes or animals to humans
2) Can’t generalize findings on humans to all humans
3) Can’t use certain treatments for clinical/ethical reasons

Question 17

Define Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI):

Answer 17

a set of nutrient intake values for healthy people in the United States and Canada. These values are used for planning and assessing diets

Question 18

What are the four parts of DRI?

Answer 18

1) Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
2) Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
3) Adequate Intake (AI)
4) Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

Question 19

Define Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

Answer 19

the average daily amount of a nutrient that will maintain a specific biochemical or physiological function in half the healthy people of a given age and gender group.

Question 20

Define Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

Answer 20

the average daily amount of a nutrient considered adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically all healthy people; a goal for dietary intake by individuals.

Question 21

Define Adequate Intake (AI)

Answer 21

the average daily amount of a nutrient that appears sufficient to maintain a specified criterion; a value used as a guide for nutrient intake when an RDA cannot be determined.

Question 22

Define Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

Answer 22

the maximum daily amount of a nutrient that appears safe for most healthy people and beyond which there is an increased risk of adverse health effects.

Question 23

Define Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR)

Answer 23

ranges of intakes for the energy nutrients that provide adequate energy and nutrients and reduce the risk ofchronic diseases.

Question 24

What are the four parts of nutrition assessment for individuals?

Answer 24

1) Historical information (health, drugs, diet)
2) Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, other body measurements)
3) Physical examinations (reveal possible imbalances studying hair, eyes, skin, etc.)
4) Laboratory tests (analyzing samples of blood or urine)

Question 25

What are the major chronic diseases that are linked to diet?

Answer 25

Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, strokes

Question 26

What are the 8 red flags that identify nutrition misinformation?

Answer 26

“Natural” ingredients, quick and easy fixes, “satisfaction guaranteed,” one product “does it all,” time tested or newfound treatment, paranoid accusations, personal testimonials, meaningless medical jargon