MEH 2 - Intro To Metabolism

Question 1

What is meant by ‘transport work’ in cells?

Answer 1

Energy required for movement of ions and nutrients across membranes

Question 2

What does ATP split into after it is used to provide energy?

Answer 2

ADP and Pi

Question 3

What is the official SI unit of food energy?

Answer 3

Kilojoule

Question 4

What is the general formula of a carbohydrate?

Answer 4

(CH2O)n

Question 5

Put these in order of smallest to largest:

Oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polysaccharides

Answer 5

• monosaccharides (single sugar units)
• disaccharides (2 units)
• oligosaccharides (3-12 units)
• polysaccharides (10-1000s units)

Question 6

Give an example of a polysaccharide

Answer 6

Glycogen, starch, cellulose

Question 7

Give some examples of dietary disaccharides

Answer 7

• sucrose (glucose-fructose)
• lactose (galactose-glucose)
• maltose (glucose-glucose)

Question 8

True or false - starch is the main carbohydrate storage molecule in animals?

Answer 8

False - it’s the main storage molecule in plants. Glycogen is the main carbohydrate storage molecule in animals

Question 9

What are the nine essential amino acids that cannot be synthesised by the body and must be obtained from other sources?

(Remember the mnemonic: ‘if learned this huge list may prove truly valuable’)

Answer 9

• isoleucine
• lysine
• threonine
• histidine
• leucine
• methionine
• phenylalanine
• tryptophan
• valine

Question 10

What is fat composed of?

Answer 10

Lipids composed of triacylglycerols (3 fatty acids esterified to one glycerol)

Question 11

Which vitamins are fat-soluble?

Answer 11

Vitamins A, D, E and K

Question 12

Sodium, potassium and chloride are electrolytes. What are these required for?

Answer 12

They establish ion gradients across membranes, and maintain water balance

Question 13

What is the routine maintenance amount of water that should be given through IV fluids?

Answer 13

30 ml/kg/day

Question 14

Give some examples of dietary fibre

Answer 14

• cellulose
• lignin
• pectins
• gums

Question 15

Why can humans not digest cellulose?

Answer 15

We do not make the required enzymes to break the beta-1,4 linkages in cellulose

Question 16

What is the recommended average intake of dietary fibre?

Answer 16

18g/day

Question 17

What are the consequences of a low fibre intake?

Answer 17

Constipation and bowel cancer

Question 18

What are the benefits of a high fibre intake?

Answer 18

Lowers cholesterol and risk of diabetes

Question 19

What are dietary reference values?

Answer 19

A series of estimates of the amount of energy and nutrients needed by different groups of healthy UK population

Question 20

Which factors determine nutrient requirements?

Answer 20

Age, gender and level of physical activity

Question 21

What is daily energy expenditure the sum of?

Answer 21

• basal metabolic rate
• diet-induced thermogenesis (energy required to process food)
• physical activity level

Question 22

Give some factors that affect basal metabolic rate (the value that maintains resting activities of the body)

Answer 22

• body size
• gender
• environmental temperature
• endocrine status
• body temperature

Question 23

What is obesity?

Answer 23

Excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissue which impairs health

Question 24

How is BMI calculated?

Answer 24

Weight (kg) / height squared (metres squared)

Question 25

Which group of individuals may be wrongly classified as obese in the BMI scale?

Answer 25

Very muscular individuals

Question 26

Under which BMI value are people classified as underweight?

Answer 26

18.5

Question 27

What is the BMI range for a desirable weight?

Answer 27

18.5 - 24.9

Question 28

What is BMI range for overweight?

Answer 28

25 - 29.9

Question 29

What is the BMI range for obese?

Answer 29

30 - 34.9

Question 30

Over which BMI value are people classified as severely obese?

Answer 30

35

Question 31

Give an alternative measurement that can be used instead of BMI

Answer 31

Waist/hip ratio

Question 32

Are the BMI classifications different for men and women?

Answer 32

No - the same values correspond to the same classification

Question 33

What problems are associated with having a greater proportion of fat in upper body/abdomen?

Answer 33

• insulin resistance
• hyperinsulinism
• type 2 diabetes
• hypertension
• hyperlipidaemia
• stroke
• premature death

Question 34

How can malnutrition lead to oedema?

Answer 34

Low protein intake can result in insufficient blood protein synthesis leading to a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure, and formation of oedema