CNS CNS Functional Nutrition 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which concept in functional nutrition describes how genetic variants influence an individual's response to specific nutrients?
- Nutrigenomics (Correct answer)
- Epigenetics
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
Correct answer: Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics studies how genetic variants affect the body's response to dietary components, enabling personalized nutrition recommendations.
Question 2: In functional nutrition, the '5R' gut restoration protocol begins with which step?
- Remove (Correct answer)
- Reinoculate
- Repair
- Reintroduce
Correct answer: Remove
The 5R protocol (Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair, Rebalance) starts with removing dietary irritants, pathogens, and stressors affecting gut function.
Question 3: Which methylation-related vitamin deficiency is most commonly screened in functional nutrition assessments to address elevated homocysteine?
- Folate (B9) (Correct answer)
- Thiamine (B1)
- Pantothenic acid (B5)
- Biotin (B7)
Correct answer: Folate (B9)
Folate, along with B12 and B6, is critical for the methylation cycle that converts homocysteine to methionine; deficiency raises cardiovascular risk.
Question 4: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism reduces activity of which enzyme central to methylation?
- Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (Correct answer)
- Dihydrofolate reductase
- Thymidylate synthase
- Serine hydroxymethyltransferase
Correct answer: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase
The MTHFR enzyme converts 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate needed for homocysteine remethylation; the C677T variant reduces this activity by up to 70%.
Question 5: Which dietary pattern is most frequently recommended in functional nutrition for reducing systemic inflammation and modulating the gut microbiome?
- Mediterranean diet (Correct answer)
- Carnivore diet
- Low-FODMAP diet
- DASH diet
Correct answer: Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is rich in polyphenols, omega-3 fats, and fiber that collectively reduce inflammatory cytokines and promote microbiome diversity.
Question 6: In functional nutrition, 'leaky gut' is clinically described as increased intestinal permeability, most often assessed using which biomarker?
- Zonulin (Correct answer)
- Calprotectin
- Lactulose
- Secretory IgA
Correct answer: Zonulin
Zonulin is a protein that regulates tight junctions; elevated serum zonulin levels are used as a surrogate marker for increased intestinal permeability.
CNS CNS Functional Nutrition 1
Which concept in functional nutrition describes how genetic variants influence an individual's response to specific nutrients?