IIN Chronic Disease & Nutrition 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric has been extensively studied for its role in chronic disease prevention?
- Quercetin
- Resveratrol
- Curcumin (Correct answer)
- Sulforaphane
Correct answer: Curcumin
Curcumin is the primary active polyphenol in turmeric and has been studied for inhibiting NF-κB and reducing inflammatory cytokine production.
Question 2: A client with hypothyroidism asks about dietary goitrogens. Which food group is highest in naturally occurring goitrogens?
- Nightshade vegetables like tomatoes and peppers
- Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale (Correct answer)
- Allium vegetables like garlic and onions
- Root vegetables like carrots and beets
Correct answer: Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale
Cruciferous vegetables contain glucosinolates that can interfere with thyroid iodine uptake, though cooking significantly reduces their goitrogenic activity.
Question 3: The glycemic index (GI) of a food is primarily affected by which factor?
- Total calorie content of the food
- The speed at which carbohydrates are digested and raise blood glucose (Correct answer)
- The total fat content of the food
- Whether the food is raw or processed
Correct answer: The speed at which carbohydrates are digested and raise blood glucose
GI measures how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose compared to pure glucose, reflecting digestion and absorption speed.
Question 4: Which nutrient deficiency is most commonly associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer according to current evidence?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin B12
- Riboflavin
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Low vitamin D status is associated with increased colorectal cancer risk due to its role in regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis in the colon.
Question 5: In the context of chronic disease, what is 'leaky gut' (intestinal permeability) primarily thought to contribute to?
- Reduced nutrient absorption only
- Systemic inflammation via translocation of bacterial endotoxins (Correct answer)
- Increased production of digestive enzymes
- Direct damage to the pancreas
Correct answer: Systemic inflammation via translocation of bacterial endotoxins
Increased intestinal permeability allows bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to enter the bloodstream, triggering chronic systemic inflammation linked to metabolic and autoimmune diseases.
Question 6: A client wants to lower their cardiovascular risk through diet. Which evidence-based dietary change has the most significant impact on reducing LDL cholesterol?
- Eliminating all dietary cholesterol
- Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats (Correct answer)
- Increasing dietary calcium intake
- Avoiding all animal proteins
Correct answer: Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats
Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats consistently reduces LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular event risk in clinical trials.
Question 7: Which statement about the gut microbiome and chronic disease is most accurate according to current research?
- A diverse microbiome is associated with increased chronic disease risk
- Reduced microbial diversity correlates with obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory conditions (Correct answer)
- The microbiome has no significant impact on chronic disease
- High Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio is protective against metabolic disease
Correct answer: Reduced microbial diversity correlates with obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory conditions
Lower gut microbial diversity is consistently linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, highlighting the microbiome's role in metabolic health.
IIN Chronic Disease & Nutrition 3
Which anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric has been extensively studied for its role in chronic disease prevention?