Nutritional Science Fundamentals Flashcards

Which pathway is the body's primary mechanism for producing glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates such as amino acids and glycerol?

Answer: Gluconeogenesis

Gluconeogenesis is the metabolic pathway that synthesizes glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, primarily occurring in the liver and to a lesser extent in the kidneys.

What is the glycemic index (GI) of a food primarily determined by?

Answer: The rate at which the food raises blood glucose compared to a reference food

The glycemic index measures how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels compared to a reference food (usually pure glucose or white bread = 100), expressed as a percentage.

Which lipoprotein is responsible for transporting dietary fat from the intestines via the lymphatic system to peripheral tissues?

Answer: Chylomicron

Chylomicrons, assembled in intestinal enterocytes, carry dietary triglycerides and fat-soluble vitamins through the lymphatic system before entering the bloodstream.

What is the role of intrinsic factor in nutritional absorption?

Answer: It binds vitamin B12 in the stomach, enabling its absorption in the ileum

Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein secreted by gastric parietal cells that binds vitamin B12 and carries it to specific receptors in the terminal ileum for absorption.

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'nitrogen balance'?

Answer: The difference between nitrogen intake and nitrogen excreted

Nitrogen balance compares the amount of nitrogen consumed (primarily from protein) to the amount excreted, indicating whether the body is building, maintaining, or breaking down protein.

What is the primary function of the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) in digestion?

Answer: Triggering gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme release

CCK is released by duodenal cells in response to fat and protein, stimulating gallbladder contraction to release bile and triggering pancreatic enzyme secretion.

In the NTA framework, which of the following is considered a 'Foundational Physiological Principle' that underlies nutrient utilization?

Answer: Digestion, absorption, and elimination as prerequisites for nutrient benefit

The NTA emphasizes that digestion, absorption, and elimination must be functioning optimally before nutrients can provide benefit, regardless of dietary quality.