Clinical Nutritionist CCN General 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A clinical nutritionist counseling a pregnant client in the first trimester should emphasize adequate intake of which nutrient to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?
- Vitamin D
- Iron
- Folate (Correct answer)
- Calcium
Correct answer: Folate
Adequate folate (400–800 mcg/day) before and during early pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Question 2: Which of the following omega-3 fatty acids is considered conditionally essential in preterm infants because they lack sufficient conversion capacity?
- Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (Correct answer)
- Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)
Correct answer: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
DHA is critical for brain and retinal development; preterm infants cannot convert ALA to DHA efficiently and require a dietary source.
Question 3: In evaluating a patient's 24-hour dietary recall, the clinical nutritionist notes very low consumption of legumes, nuts, and whole grains. Which mineral is most likely inadequate?
- Calcium
- Selenium
- Magnesium (Correct answer)
- Iodine
Correct answer: Magnesium
Magnesium is abundant in legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, and low intake of these foods strongly predicts magnesium inadequacy.
Question 4: The glycemic index (GI) of a food is measured relative to which reference food?
- White bread
- Brown rice
- Pure glucose or white bread (depending on methodology) (Correct answer)
- Sucrose
Correct answer: Pure glucose or white bread (depending on methodology)
GI is defined relative to either pure glucose (GI = 100) or white bread (GI = 100) depending on the methodology used by the research group.
Question 5: A CCN working in a clinical setting identifies a patient with elevated homocysteine levels. Supplementation with which group of nutrients is most appropriate to investigate first?
- Vitamins A, D, and E
- Vitamins B6, B12, and folate (Correct answer)
- Vitamins C, K, and biotin
- Zinc, selenium, and copper
Correct answer: Vitamins B6, B12, and folate
Elevated homocysteine is strongly associated with deficiencies in folate, B6, and B12, which are required for its remethylation and transsulfuration.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the role of secretin in digestion?
- Stimulates gastric acid secretion
- Stimulates pancreatic bicarbonate secretion to neutralize chyme (Correct answer)
- Triggers gallbladder contraction to release bile
- Promotes gastric emptying
Correct answer: Stimulates pancreatic bicarbonate secretion to neutralize chyme
Secretin is released from S cells in the duodenum in response to acidic chyme and stimulates the pancreas to secrete bicarbonate-rich juice.
Question 7: A clinical nutritionist is calculating the estimated energy requirement (EER) for a sedentary adult male. Which factor is NOT included in standard EER equations?
- Age
- Height
- Weight
- Blood glucose level (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Blood glucose level
EER is calculated using age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level; blood glucose is not part of this energy prediction equation.
Clinical Nutritionist CCN General 3
A clinical nutritionist counseling a pregnant client in the first trimester should emphasize adequate intake of which nutrient to reduce the risk of neural tube defects?