CDN Nutritional Science & Dietetics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which dietary pattern is most strongly supported by evidence for reducing cardiovascular disease risk?
- Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet
- Mediterranean diet (Correct answer)
- Carnivore diet
- Very low-calorie liquid diet
Correct answer: Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet, rich in olive oil, fish, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has the strongest evidence base for reducing CVD morbidity and mortality.
Question 2: What is the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) used for in dietary planning?
- Setting the upper safe intake limit for a nutrient
- Estimating the intake that meets the needs of 50% of a healthy population (Correct answer)
- Determining the minimum intake to prevent deficiency in all individuals
- Calculating the average intake observed in population surveys
Correct answer: Estimating the intake that meets the needs of 50% of a healthy population
The EAR is the daily intake estimated to meet the requirements of half of all healthy individuals in a group and is used to assess population adequacy.
Question 3: A client with lactose intolerance asks about calcium sources. Which plant-based food provides the most bioavailable calcium?
- Spinach
- Almonds
- Fortified soy milk (Correct answer)
- Beet greens
Correct answer: Fortified soy milk
Fortified soy milk provides calcium that is highly bioavailable (absorption ~30%), comparable to cow's milk, unlike spinach and beet greens which contain oxalates that inhibit calcium absorption.
Question 4: Which enzyme, secreted by the pancreas, is responsible for breaking down dietary triglycerides in the small intestine?
- Pepsin
- Amylase
- Pancreatic lipase (Correct answer)
- Sucrase
Correct answer: Pancreatic lipase
Pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides into free fatty acids and monoglycerides in the small intestine, a process facilitated by bile salts.
Question 5: Which condition is most associated with excess vitamin A intake during pregnancy?
- Neural tube defects
- Teratogenicity and fetal malformations (Correct answer)
- Preterm labor
- Gestational diabetes
Correct answer: Teratogenicity and fetal malformations
Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is teratogenic at high doses, causing craniofacial, cardiac, and CNS malformations; pregnant women should avoid supplements exceeding the UL.
Question 6: The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) category that represents the highest average daily intake unlikely to cause harm in most individuals is called the:
- Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
- Adequate Intake (AI)
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (Correct answer)
- Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
Correct answer: Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects in almost all individuals in the general population.
Question 7: In sports nutrition, which strategy best describes 'carbohydrate loading' for endurance athletes?
- Consuming high-fat meals 48 hours before competition to increase fat oxidation
- Increasing carbohydrate intake to maximize muscle glycogen stores before an event (Correct answer)
- Eliminating carbohydrates the week before competition then eating a large carbohydrate meal race morning
- Consuming simple sugars only within 30 minutes of exercise
Correct answer: Increasing carbohydrate intake to maximize muscle glycogen stores before an event
Carbohydrate loading involves tapering exercise while increasing carbohydrate intake (8–12 g/kg/day) in the days before endurance events to maximize muscle glycogen storage.
CDN Nutritional Science & Dietetics 5
Which dietary pattern is most strongly supported by evidence for reducing cardiovascular disease risk?