BS Bachelor of Science: Science of Nutrition 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which micronutrient deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting primarily women and children in developing regions?
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Iron deficiency (Correct answer)
- Zinc deficiency
- Iodine deficiency
Correct answer: Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency globally, causing iron-deficiency anemia that impairs oxygen transport and cognitive development.
Question 2: The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease risk primarily due to high intake of which food component?
- Saturated fat from dairy
- Monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil (Correct answer)
- Omega-3 from fish only
- Simple sugars from fruit
Correct answer: Monounsaturated fatty acids from olive oil
Extra-virgin olive oil, rich in oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid) and polyphenols, is a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet linked to reduced LDL oxidation and inflammation.
Question 3: Which metabolic pathway converts excess glucose into fatty acids for long-term energy storage?
- Gluconeogenesis
- Beta-oxidation
- De novo lipogenesis (Correct answer)
- Glycogenolysis
Correct answer: De novo lipogenesis
De novo lipogenesis converts acetyl-CoA derived from excess carbohydrate or protein into palmitate, which is then esterified into triglycerides for storage in adipose tissue.
Question 4: In a 24-hour dietary recall, which primary limitation affects the accuracy of reported intake data?
- Inability to capture seasonal variation in diet
- Reliance on participant memory and accurate portion estimation (Correct answer)
- High cost of dietary analysis software
- Lack of standardized nutrient databases
Correct answer: Reliance on participant memory and accurate portion estimation
The 24-hour recall depends entirely on the participant's memory and ability to accurately estimate portion sizes, introducing recall bias and estimation error.
Question 5: Which biomarker is used to assess long-term average blood glucose control over approximately 2-3 months in diabetic patients?
- Fasting plasma glucose
- Postprandial glucose
- Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (Correct answer)
- C-peptide levels
Correct answer: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)
HbA1c reflects the percentage of hemoglobin glycated over the 120-day lifespan of red blood cells, providing a retrospective average of blood glucose control.
Question 6: The concept of 'protein leverage hypothesis' proposes that humans prioritize protein intake and will overconsume total energy when dietary protein is diluted by which macronutrients?
- Fiber and water
- Fats and carbohydrates (Correct answer)
- Vitamins and minerals
- Alcohol and caffeine
Correct answer: Fats and carbohydrates
The protein leverage hypothesis posits that when protein is diluted by fats and carbohydrates in a low-protein diet, appetite remains unsatisfied, driving overconsumption of total energy to meet protein targets.
Question 7: Which intestinal transporter is primarily responsible for the active absorption of glucose and galactose from the intestinal lumen into enterocytes?
- GLUT5
- GLUT2
- SGLT1 (Correct answer)
- SGLT2
Correct answer: SGLT1
SGLT1 (sodium-glucose linked transporter 1) co-transports glucose and galactose with sodium ions against a concentration gradient in the apical membrane of small intestinal enterocytes.
BS Bachelor of Science: Science of Nutrition 5
Which micronutrient deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting primarily women and children in developing regions?