Nutrition and metabolism Flashcards
(391 cards)
Basic description of metabolism?
Energy for activity comes from food
Need to release energy by oxidation
Metabolism comprises of catabolism and anabolism
Catabolism - break down
Anabolism - building back up
Function of metabolism?
Perform vital functions:
Provision of energy required to maintain the internal composition of the cell and support its specialised functions
Provision of metabolites for the biosynthesis of its constituents of the cell and any products released by the cell
Why do we care about metabolism?
To understand how nutrition effects performance we need to understand what happens in the body to provide energy
What are essential nutrients?
Cannot be synthesised (or not in sufficient quantities) by the body
Examples are vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, essential amino acids
What are non essential nutrients?
Can be made in sufficient quantities by the body
What are macronutrients?
Usually required in gram quantities
CHO, Fat, Protein, Water, Alcohol
Quantitatively largest part of the diet
Provide energy
What are micronutrients?
Usually needed in small amounts (smaller than 1g)
Vitamins, minerals, trace elements
Quantitatively largest family of nutrients
Describe carbohydrates?
Carbo = carbon, hydrate = hydrogen and oxygen
Hydrated carbons = (CH2O)
Example is glucose C6H12O6
There are monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides
Describe the monosaccharide glucose?
most common sugar in the body
Describe the monosaccharide Fructose?
Cheaper than sucrose
Describe the monosaccharide Galactose?
Used in neural tissue development
Found in lactose from milk
Describe the disaccharide Sucrose?
Made from Glucose and Fructose
Describe the disaccharide Maltose?
Made up from 2 glucose
Fermented to make beer
Found in wheat and barley
Describe the disaccharide Lactose?
Made up of glucose and galactose
Widely used in food industry
Found in Milk
Describe the polysaccharide oligosaccharide?
Less than 10 monosaccharides
Rapidly ferments in the colon
Found in leek, onion, lentils, beans
Describe the polysaccharide starch?
80% amylopectin
20% amylase
Found in potatoes, cereals, beans
Describe the polysaccharide dietary fibre?
Non starch polysaccharide
Found in cellulose plant cell walls, which is resistant to digestion
Non cellulose version found in petins, gums, glucans
Describe dietary fats?
Triaglycerol comprises up to 95%
3 fatty acids to 1 glycerol
Concentrated source of energy
Usually stored in adipose
Insulating layer under skin
Vehicle for intake and absorption of fat soluble vitamins
Contribute to labour and palatability of food
Describe fatty acid chains?
Organic chains of C, H and O
Categorised based on the number and bonding of carbon atoms
Saturated = 0 double bonds
Monounsaturated = 1 double bond
Polyunsaturated = more than 1 double bond
n = omega = number of carbons from methyl end
Describe phospholipids?
Contain glycerol backbone and 2 FA (non-polar) and polar head with phosphoric
acid residue and either sugar or amino acids
Amphipathetic acting as interface between aqueous and lipid environments, therefore essential structural components of cell membranes (phospholipid bilayer)
Describe sterols?
Arranged in a ring structure with associated side chains
Cholesterol is main sterol, often associated with a fatty acid to form a cholesterol ester
Plays a key role in membrane structure, synthesis of hormones, and bile acids
Where are short chain fatty acids found (C4-C10)?
Milk products, butter
Where are SFA found (C14-C18)?
Animal foods and fats, palm oil
Where is MUFA, especially C18:1 found?
Olive and rapeseed oils