Risk Assessment & Mitigation Flashcards

A client wants to try a raw food diet exclusively. What micronutrient deficiency risk is most urgent to address?

Answer: Vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products and is not reliably present in raw plant foods, making deficiency a critical risk on a raw vegan diet.

Which ergogenic aid presents the greatest risk of adulteration with banned substances when purchased from unverified sources?

Answer: Pre-workout supplements from unknown online vendors

Pre-workout supplements from unverified vendors are among the highest-risk products for contamination with undisclosed stimulants, prohormones, or banned substances.

What is the primary nutrition-related risk for an endurance athlete training more than 15 hours per week without dietary guidance?

Answer: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)

RED-S occurs when energy intake chronically fails to meet the demands of training, impairing hormonal function, bone health, immunity, and performance.

A client using herbal supplements reports taking St. John's Wort alongside prescription antidepressants. What is the key risk?

Answer: Serotonin syndrome from additive serotonergic effects

Combining St. John's Wort with serotonergic drugs can precipitate serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by agitation, hyperthermia, and seizures.

Which population has the highest risk of calcium supplementation causing cardiovascular adverse events?

Answer: Postmenopausal women exceeding 1,000 mg/day from supplements alone

Research suggests that high-dose calcium supplements (not dietary calcium) in postmenopausal women may increase cardiovascular event risk, likely due to acute hypercalcemia spikes.

When reviewing a client's intake, you notice chronic consumption of large amounts of raw cruciferous vegetables. What thyroid-related risk should be assessed?

Answer: Hypothyroid risk from goitrogen interference with iodine uptake

Raw cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens that can inhibit iodine uptake by the thyroid, potentially impairing thyroid hormone synthesis in individuals with borderline iodine status.

A client taking warfarin wants to increase intake of leafy green vegetables. What is the correct risk mitigation approach?

Answer: Recommend consistent daily intake of leafy greens and notify the prescribing physician to adjust warfarin dosing accordingly

Consistent vitamin K intake allows the prescribing physician to calibrate warfarin dosing accurately; abrupt changes in vitamin K intake are more dangerous than consistent higher intake.