CDN Pediatric & Geriatric Nutrition 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A child with celiac disease is at greatest long-term nutritional risk for deficiency of which mineral?
- Sodium
- Calcium (Correct answer)
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
Correct answer: Calcium
Celiac disease damages the small intestinal mucosa where calcium is primarily absorbed, increasing fracture risk and osteoporosis if not managed.
Question 2: What is the primary nutritional concern when introducing complementary foods to a 6-month-old breastfed infant?
- Adequate fat intake
- Sufficient iron and zinc (Correct answer)
- Enough vitamin C
- Protein quantity
Correct answer: Sufficient iron and zinc
After 6 months, breast milk alone cannot meet iron and zinc demands, making iron-rich complementary foods a priority.
Question 3: An elderly woman on warfarin asks about her diet. Which nutrient requires careful monitoring because it can antagonize her anticoagulant therapy?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K (Correct answer)
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin A
Correct answer: Vitamin K
Vitamin K is essential for synthesis of clotting factors and directly counteracts warfarin's anticoagulant mechanism.
Question 4: Which condition in older adults is characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function?
- Cachexia
- Sarcopenia (Correct answer)
- Osteopenia
- Kwashiorkor
Correct answer: Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia is the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function and is a major contributor to disability in older adults.
Question 5: A 3-year-old presents with a distended abdomen, edema, and skin lesions, but adequate caloric intake. The most likely diagnosis is:
- Marasmus
- Kwashiorkor (Correct answer)
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Rickets
Correct answer: Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor results from severe protein deficiency with relatively adequate caloric intake, presenting with edema, skin/hair changes, and fatty liver.
Question 6: In a geriatric patient, which serum marker reflects short-term protein status better than albumin?
- Hemoglobin
- Prealbumin (transthyretin) (Correct answer)
- Transferrin
- C-reactive protein
Correct answer: Prealbumin (transthyretin)
Prealbumin has a half-life of 2–3 days vs. albumin's 20 days, making it more sensitive to recent nutritional changes.
Question 7: Which omega-3 fatty acid is critical for brain and retinal development in infants and is preferentially found in breast milk?
- ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)
- EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
- DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) (Correct answer)
- GLA (gamma-linolenic acid)
Correct answer: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DHA accumulates rapidly in the brain and retina during the third trimester and early infancy, and breast milk provides preformed DHA unlike most standard formulas.
CDN Pediatric & Geriatric Nutrition 3
A child with celiac disease is at greatest long-term nutritional risk for deficiency of which mineral?