IIN Nutrition Science 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which dietary pattern is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and emphasizes olive oil, fish, legumes, and vegetables?
- Paleo diet
- Mediterranean diet (Correct answer)
- Ketogenic diet
- DASH diet
Correct answer: Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is extensively studied and linked to lower cardiovascular mortality due to its emphasis on monounsaturated fats, fiber, and anti-inflammatory foods.
Question 2: What is the function of bile in fat digestion?
- It chemically breaks down fat molecules using enzymes
- It emulsifies fat into small droplets to increase surface area for lipase (Correct answer)
- It transports fat-soluble vitamins across the intestinal wall
- It neutralizes stomach acid before fat enters the small intestine
Correct answer: It emulsifies fat into small droplets to increase surface area for lipase
Bile salts emulsify dietary fats into micelles, dramatically increasing the surface area available for pancreatic lipase to digest triglycerides.
Question 3: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed when:
- Proteins combine with fats at low temperatures
- Sugars react with proteins or fats during high-heat cooking (Correct answer)
- Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in food
- Dietary fiber is fermented by gut bacteria
Correct answer: Sugars react with proteins or fats during high-heat cooking
AGEs form through the Maillard reaction when reducing sugars bond non-enzymatically to proteins or fats under high heat, contributing to oxidative stress and inflammation.
Question 4: Which amino acid is considered conditionally essential and is the most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue?
- Tryptophan
- Lysine
- Glutamine (Correct answer)
- Leucine
Correct answer: Glutamine
Glutamine is conditionally essential during stress, illness, or intense exercise, and serves as primary fuel for enterocytes and immune cells.
Question 5: According to IIN's 'crowding out' principle, the best strategy to improve diet quality is to:
- Eliminate all processed foods simultaneously using willpower
- Add more healthy foods so they naturally replace less healthy choices (Correct answer)
- Count calories rigorously to reduce overconsumption
- Follow a structured elimination diet protocol
Correct answer: Add more healthy foods so they naturally replace less healthy choices
IIN's crowding out approach adds nourishing foods incrementally, which naturally reduces cravings and space for less healthful options without feelings of deprivation.
Question 6: The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting added sugars to less than what percentage of total daily calories?
- 5%
- 10% (Correct answer)
- 15%
- 20%
Correct answer: 10%
The 2020–2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend that added sugars comprise less than 10% of total daily caloric intake.
Question 7: Which nutrient serves as the structural backbone of cell membranes and is also a precursor to steroid hormones?
- Triglycerides
- Phospholipids
- Cholesterol (Correct answer)
- Omega-6 fatty acids
Correct answer: Cholesterol
Cholesterol is an essential structural component of cell membranes that maintains fluidity and serves as the precursor to steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.
IIN Nutrition Science 5
Which dietary pattern is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and emphasizes olive oil, fish, legumes, and vegetables?