CDN Pediatric & Geriatric Nutrition 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which formula feature is essential when selecting an enteral product for a child under 10 years with a functional GI tract requiring tube feeding?
- Adult standard polymeric formula
- Pediatric-specific formula with age-appropriate nutrient density (Correct answer)
- Elemental amino acid formula
- Clear liquid supplement
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which assessment tool is widely used to screen for malnutrition risk in community-dwelling older adults?
- MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool)
- Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) (Correct answer)
- Subjective Global Assessment (SGA)
- NRS-2002
Correct answer: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)
The MNA was specifically developed and validated for nutritional screening and assessment in older adults aged 65 and above.
Question 3: A 14-year-old female athlete presents with amenorrhea, low bone density, and disordered eating. This triad is best described as:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)
- Female Athlete Triad (Correct answer)
- Bulimia nervosa
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which vitamin is added to milk in the United States primarily to prevent rickets in children?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct 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.
Question 5: Zinc deficiency in a toddler is most likely to impair which function?
- Oxygen transport
- Linear growth and immune function (Correct answer)
- Blood clotting
- Thyroid hormone synthesis
Correct 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.
Question 6: An older adult with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and malnutrition requires protein guidance. Which approach is most appropriate?
- Restrict protein to 0.6 g/kg/day to protect kidneys
- Provide 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and monitor renal function closely (Correct answer)
- Increase protein to 2.0 g/kg/day to reverse malnutrition
- Eliminate all animal protein
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which carbohydrate is contraindicated in infants under 12 months due to risk of infant botulism?
- Pasteurized fruit juice
- Honey (Correct answer)
- Pureed sweet potato
- Rice cereal
Correct 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.
CDN Pediatric & Geriatric Nutrition 5
Which formula feature is essential when selecting an enteral product for a child under 10 years with a functional GI tract requiring tube feeding?