Clinical Nutritionist CCN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Clinical Nutritionist CCN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which nutrient keeps calcium in tact? → D
2. Which clinical tool uses calf circumference as a proxy measure for muscle mass in elderly patients? → Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)
3. Which type of dietary fiber is most effective at lowering LDL cholesterol through bile acid sequestration? → Soluble viscous fiber such as beta-glucan
4. Which fatty acid classification describes EPA and DHA, found abundantly in fatty fish? → Omega-3 polyunsaturated
5. What is the main clinical consequence of essential fatty acid deficiency in adults? → Scaly dermatitis and impaired wound healing
6. Which standardized tool is commonly used by CCNs to screen patients for malnutrition risk in clinical settings? → Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
7. A male athlete reports muscle cramps, fatigue, and cardiac arrhythmias after intense training in heat. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely? → Hypokalemia
8. A serum albumin level below which threshold indicates severe hypoalbuminemia associated with malnutrition? → 2.1 g/dL
9. When receiving therapy for a hiatal hernia, peppermint, chocolate, and caffeine should be avoided because: → These foods decrease esophageal sphincter pressure.
10. In nutrition assessment, which anthropometric measurement is most strongly associated with visceral adiposity and metabolic syndrome risk? → Waist circumference
11. Which metabolic pathway converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle? → Pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction
12. Which organ secretes the hormone insulin in response to elevated blood glucose levels? → Pancreatic beta cells
13. Which vitamin is uniquely found almost exclusively in animal-sourced foods, making vegans at high risk for deficiency? → Vitamin B12
14. The glycemic index (GI) of a food is measured relative to which reference food assigned a GI of 100? → Glucose
15. What is the primary function of vitamin K in the body? → Carboxylation of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X
16. A patient with gout should be counseled to reduce intake of which substances that increase uric acid production? → High-purine foods (organ meats, shellfish) and alcohol (especially beer)
17. Vitamin D deficiency is most prevalent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because of: → Combination of malabsorption, reduced sun exposure, and chronic inflammation
18. Celiac disease causes malabsorption primarily by: → Autoimmune destruction of intestinal villi triggered by gluten
19. Which precursor is required for endogenous synthesis of carnitine, essential for mitochondrial fatty acid transport? → Lysine and methionine, with cofactors vitamin C, B6, niacin, and iron
20. Achlorhydria (absent stomach acid) most significantly impairs absorption of which nutrients? → Iron and vitamin B12
21. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely in a patient who underwent a total gastrectomy and is not receiving supplementation? → Vitamin B12
22. Which lipoprotein is responsible for transporting cholesterol from peripheral tissues back to the liver? → HDL
23. Obese people are more likely to make mistakes when calculating their resting energy expenditure (REE) because: → Adipose tissue is not as metabolically active as lean body mass.
24. Which plant compound found in soybeans is classified as a phytoestrogen due to its structural similarity to estradiol? → Genistein
25. Which macronutrient has the highest thermic effect of food (TEF), meaning the greatest percentage of its calories are used in digestion and metabolism? → Protein
26. Pellagra is the classic deficiency disease associated with inadequate intake of which B vitamin? → Niacin (B3)
27. Which condition is characterized by excessive accumulation of iron in organs such as the liver, heart, and pancreas? → Hemochromatosis
28. Secretory IgA (sIgA) in the gut primarily functions to: → Neutralize pathogens and prevent their adherence to intestinal mucosa
29. Which vitamin deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults? → Vitamin D
30. A patient presents with bleeding gums, petechiae, and poor wound healing. Which nutrient deficiency is most likely? → Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)