Pediatric & Geriatric Nutrition Flashcards

Which formula feature is essential when selecting an enteral product for a child under 10 years with a functional GI tract requiring tube feeding?

Answer: Pediatric-specific formula with age-appropriate nutrient density

Pediatric formulas are designed with caloric density, protein ratios, and micronutrient profiles matched to children's growth needs, unlike adult formulas.

Which assessment tool is widely used to screen for malnutrition risk in community-dwelling older adults?

Answer: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

The MNA was specifically developed and validated for nutritional screening and assessment in older adults aged 65 and above.

A 14-year-old female athlete presents with amenorrhea, low bone density, and disordered eating. This triad is best described as:

Answer: Female Athlete Triad

The Female Athlete Triad specifically describes the interrelated conditions of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density in female athletes.

Which vitamin is added to milk in the United States primarily to prevent rickets in children?

Answer: Vitamin D

Vitamin D fortification of cow's milk has been standard in the US since the 1930s and is the primary public health strategy to prevent nutritional rickets.

Zinc deficiency in a toddler is most likely to impair which function?

Answer: Linear growth and immune function

Zinc is critical for cell division, growth, and immune defense; deficiency commonly manifests as growth faltering, increased infections, and dermatitis in young children.

An older adult with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and malnutrition requires protein guidance. Which approach is most appropriate?

Answer: Provide 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and monitor renal function closely

Current evidence in non-dialysis CKD with malnutrition supports moderate protein intake of 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day with close monitoring, balancing nutritional rehabilitation against renal progression.

Which carbohydrate is contraindicated in infants under 12 months due to risk of infant botulism?

Answer: Honey

Honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores that produce toxin in the infant gut, causing potentially fatal infant botulism; it should not be given before age 1.