week 9 - micronutrients

Question 1

what are the key functions of each of the vitamins and minerals?

Answer 1

• fat soluble vitamins
  1. vitmain A - vision
  2. vitamin D - bone health
  3. vitamin K - blood clotting

Question 2

What are antioxidants?

Answer 2

• Substance capable of neutralising oxygen free radicals
• Oxygen radicals are highly active and damaging atoms and chemical groups produced by various disease processes and by poisons, radiation, smoking and other agencies
• Free radicals: highly unstable atom with an unpaired electron in its outer shell
  
  • Single molecule: missing an atom
  • Need to acquire an atom and in doing so -> damages healthy cells
  • Free radicals are formed through metabolism
  • Foods that increase the amount of free radicals in body: saturated/trans fats and alcohol

Question 3

what are some types of antioxidants?

Answer 3

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta carotene

Question 4

What are the different functions of minerals?

Answer 4

• Functions with relevance to activity:
  1. Blood formation and function (iron, copper)
  2. Bone mineralisation (calcium, fluoride, phosphate)
  3. Muscle contraction (calcium, magnesium)
  4. Nerve excitability (calcium)

Question 5

What are the functions of iron?

Answer 5

• Iron is a component of haemoglobin, myoglobin and cytochromes - T.F
  
  • Trasnports oxygen to tissues (haemoglobin)
  • Stores oxygen in tissues (especially muscles - myoglobin)
  • Facilitates cellular energy transfer (cytochromes) - electron transfer chain -> ATP generation
• Coenzymes for multiple enzymes
  
  • Collagen synthesis
  • Carnitene synthesis
  • Vit A metabolism
  • DNA synthesis
  • T3 and T4 synthesis

Question 6

What is Anaemia?

Answer 6

• General feeling of lack of energy
• Easily tired
• May feel light headed
• Short of breath after relatively minor activities
• Decrease in training effects or performance

Question 7

What does calcium function in?

Answer 7

• Muscle stimulation
• Blood clotting
• Nerve implies transmission
• Activation of several enzymes
• Transport of fluids across cellular membranes

Question 8

What is the relationship between calcium, exercise and bone density?

Answer 8

Both adequate intake of calcium and adequate amounts of exercise is needed to gaining and maintaining the architecture and mass of the skeleton

Question 9

What is osteopenia and osteoporosis?

Answer 9

• Osteopenia: midway condition where bones weaken with increased risk of fractures
• Osteoporosis: develops progressively as bone loses its calcium mass and concentration -> this in time causes bone to become more brittle and porous

Question 10

What are some osteoporosis risk factors?

Answer 10

1. Advancing age
2. History of fracture
3. History of fracture in a parent or sibling
4. Cigarette smoking
5. Slight build or being underweight
6. White and asian females
7. Sedentary lifestyle
8. Early menopause - why?
9. Eating disorder
10. High sodium intake
11. High protein intake?
    
    1. Generally people with high intake of macronutrient will displace room for other macronutrients to be consumed
12. High caffeine intake
    
    1. Similar binding affects to sodium -> excrete calcium
13. Vitamin D deficiency
14. Calcium-deficient diet before and after menopause

Question 11

In which circumstances may supplements be considered?

Answer 11

1. Indivisuals who are unwilling to consume a diet that meets the NRV’s
   
   1. Poor appetite and or illness
   2. Restriction for weightloss/control
   3. Exclusion of an entire food group
   4. Consuming a diet low in nutrients despite adequate energy intake
2. Treatment of a diagnosed deficiency
3. Disease or illness leading to
   
   1. Reduced appetite or absorption
   2. Increased metabolism or excretion
   3. Medication interfering with body’s use of specific nutrients

Question 12

Which group of people or circumstances are most likely to need or consider supplements?

Answer 12

• Lifecycle stages: infancy, pregnancy, lactation, elderly
• Athletes
• Lactose intolerant/allergies
• Vegetarians/vegans
• Persons with disease, infections, injury, recent surgery/medications interfering with specific nutrient intake
• Food insecure persons

Question 13

What are some concerns regarding supplments?

Answer 13

Some concerns regarding supplements are

1. Going over the UL
2. Life-threatening misinformation
3. Cost
4. Invalid reasons for use
   
   1. Believing they will provide energy
   2. Belief they will help with stress
   3. Belief the food supply or soil are inadequate
   4. Belief they can prevent, treat, or cure conditions with no evidence
5. Bioavailability and antagonistic factors
   
   1. May act as a antagonistic ligand that may block/dampen biological response by blocking receptors rather than activating it like a agonist