Nutrition

• Macronutrients


  • Protein
  • Fats
  • Carbohydrates
• Protein


  • Source of nitrogen—amino acids
  • Growth and repair
• Essential amino acids

  • Lysine
  • Methionine
  • Valine
  • Leucine
  • Isoleucine
  • Tryptophan
  • Phenylalanine
  • Threonine
• Additional essential amino acids for children


  • Arginine
  • Histidine
  • Cysteine
  • Glycine
  • Tyrosine
  • Glutamine
  • Proline
• Protein energy malnutrition (PEM)


  Muscle wastage, poor wound healing, increased risk of infection, oedema
• Fats


  • 1 glycerol, 3 fatty acids (triglyceride)
  • Saturated- no double bonds
  • Unsaturated- 1 double bond
  • Polyunsaturated- 1+ double bond
• Essential fatty acids


  • Linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids (polyunsaturated)
  • Used to make eicosapentanoic acid, arachidonic acid and decosahexanoic acid
  • Precursors of prostaglandins, thromboxane, leukotrienes
• Vitamin E

  Prevents oxidation of essential fatty acids= preserves structure
• Carbohydrates


  • Monosaccharides
  • Disaccharides
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Non-starch polysaccharides (fibre)
• Monosaccharides


  Glucose, fructose, galactose
• Disaccharides


  Sucrose (glucose, fructose), maltose (2 glucose), lactose (galactose, glucose)
• Oligosaccharides

  Raffinose, inulin
• Polysaccharides


  Amylopectin, amylose, cellulose
• Non-starch polysaccharides (fibre)


  • Insoluble- cellulose- stimulates peristalsis
  • Soluble- slows down the reabsorption of bile acids, increases excretion of cholesterol
• Micronutrients


  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B1
  • Vitamin B2
  • Vitamin B3
  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D3
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin K
• Vitamin A


  • Retinol
  • Night blindness, foamy spots on eyes
  • Changes in cornea= more severe
  • Toxic in high doses
• Vitamin B1

  • Thiamine
  • Beriberi, Wernicke-korsakoff (alcoholism)
  • Normally seen in fasting and persistent vomiting
• Vitamin B2


  • Riboflavin
  • Angular stomatitis, itchy and watery eyes, tiredness, dizziness
  • Tongue papillae
• Vitamin B3


  • Niacin
  • Pellagra (inflamed, cracked and peeled skin)
  • 3Ds- dermatitis, diarrhoea, delirium/dementia
  • Can't absorb pure form in foods
• Vitamin B6


  • Pyridoxine
  • Weak, sleepy, peripheral neuropathy, personality changes, dermatitis, anaemia, decreased immunity
• Vitamin B12


  • Cyanocobalamin
  • Common in vegans
  • Decreased neurological development, dizzy, anaemia, severe encephalopathy, weak in lower limbs
• Vitamin C

  • Ascorbic acid
  • Scurvy, bleeding gums, tooth loss, painful legs, spider veins
• Vitamin D3


  • Cholecalciferol
  • Muscle/bone weakness, ricketts, increased infection risk, difficulty sleeping
• Vitamin E


  • Tocopherol
  • Muscle waste
  • Normally when diet is poor
• Vitamin K


  • Phylloquinone
  • Bleeding, bruising easily, clotting takes longer, blood in stool/urine
• Minerals

  • Calcium
  • Chloride
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorous
  • Sodium
• Calcium

  Difficulty swallowing, faintness, low BP, brittle hair and nails
• Chloride


  Fluid loss, dehydration, fatigue, difficulty breathing
• Magnesium


  N&V, weakness, decreased appetite, numbness, tingling, muscle cramps
• Phosphorous


  Weakness, fatigue, frequent urination, abnormal heart beat, digestive problems
• Sodium


  Weakness, fatigue, headache, N&V, confusion, irritability
• Trace elements

  • Chromium
  • Copper
  • Flouride
  • Iodine
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Selenium
  • Zinc
• Chromium


  Weight loss, confusion, impaired co-ordination
• Copper


  Fatigue, weakness, sensitivity to cold, pale skin, difficulties walking, premature grey hair
• Flouride


  Weak/brittle bones, tooth decay
• Iodine


  Fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, neck swelling, feeling colder
• Iron


  Fatigue, SoB, palpitations, headaches, pale skin
• Manganese


  Poor bone growth, slow growth, low fertility
• Molybdenum


  Gout-like symptoms, poor bone health
• Selenium

  Infertility, muscle weakness, fatigue, hair loss