Diet and Nutrition - Notes (Changes and Suggestions in
blue - 3/6/06)
1. Name the four main uses of nutrients in the body.
1. energy for activities
2. raw materials (e.g., growth, repair, and
replacement)
3. cofactors to assist reactions (e.g., vitamins,
minerals)
4. fluid/electrolyte balance (e.g., osmotic pressure,
blood pressure)
2. Describe the correlations between proper diet and proper nutrition (nutritional homeostasis).
- normally, proper diet -> proper nutrition
- sometimes proper diet does not -> proper
nutrition
- e.g., digestive
malfunction, disease, smoking, alcohol, medications
3. Explain why malnutrition can have diverse effects
- many possible types of malnutrition
- diversity in severity and duration of malnutrition
- diversity in direct and indirect effects from
malnutrition
4. Explain why malnutrition may be difficult to detect.
1. body nutrient reserve may delay onset of S&S
2. S&S may be mild or develop gradually
3. S&S may be attributed to other problems (e.g.,
dementia)
5. Describe overall effects from malnutrition.
1 decr. homeostasis
2. decr. quality of life
3. incr. diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis,
osteoporosis)
6. Describe and evaluate methods for determining a proper diet.
- Food Guide Pyramid (See Changes
and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet and Nutrition)
- based on ordinary
foods
- not designed for
different age groups
- may have low levels of
Vitamin C and fiber
- may have too much fat
- not individualized
- see new Food Guide
Pyramid for elders
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) (See Changes and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet and
Nutrition)
- comprehensive and
detailed
- includes caloric
intake
- does not include many
minerals
- uses broad age
categories
- may have inadequate
protein
- not individualized
- U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances (U.S. RDAs)
(See Changes and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet
and Nutrition)
- comprehensive and
detailed
- does not include many
minerals
- uses broad age
categories
- may have inadequate
protein
- not individualized
- Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intakes
(ESADDIs) (See Changes and suggestions for
Chapter 11 – Diet and Nutrition)
- compliments the RDAs
- uses broad age categories
- not individualized
- Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) (See Changes and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet and
Nutrition)
- comprehensive
- includes diverse age
categories
- versatile
- complex
- not individualized
7. Compare and contrast nutritional needs for younger and older adults.
- same because of same body functions
- adjust kcals based on activity levels
- modify based on abnormal or unusual conditions
- e.g., heat, cold,
exercise, disease, meds
8. Explain why a diet plan for an elderly person must be more individualized.
- increased heterogeneity in lifestyle; amount of exercise; diseases; medications; levels of activity; disabilities; sensory, motor, and mental problems, social, economic, psychological
- see supplementary table Factors that Influence Amounts and Types of Food Eaten
9. Describe the general trends in malnutrition as age increases and explain reasons for these trends.
- increased incidence and severity as age increases
- numerous and diverse reasons including biological,
social, psychological, economic
- see supplementary table Factors Contributing to Malnutrition in the
Elderly
10. Describe an appropriate sequence of steps to prevent or reduce malnutrition.
1. evaluate nutritional status
2. identify factors contributing to malnutrition
3. make adjustments in diet and activity to improve
nutrition
- individualize
adjustments
- combine
nutrition with other activities
- use selected
supplements, medications
4. reevaluate and adjust as circumstances change
(e.g., disease, finances, psychology, social, level of activity)
11. Briefly describe the body's energy economy and energy balance including the contributions made by (1) BMR, (2) muscle activity, and (3) defense and healing processes and age-related changes in these parameters.
1. BMR = resting rate of energy use
- due to
respiratory action, muscle metabolism, brain and liver metabolism, digestion,
maintaining body temperature, growth, turnover of cells (e.g., skin, digestive
mucosa), healing
- depends heavily
on muscle mass
- aging ->
variable but general decr. due to decr.
muscle mass
2. muscle contraction -> very large and variable
contribution
- aging ->
variable but general decr. due to decr.
activity
3. defense and healing -> very variable
contribution
- important for
elderly due to incr. number and severity of diseases
- aging ->
variable but often incr. due to incr. abnormal and disease conditions
12. Describe strategies to maintain energy balance and nutritional homeostasis.
1. decr. kcals but incr.
nutrient density when decr. energy needs
2. incr. activity to allow incr. eating with no weight
gain
13. Describe effects from being obese and being underweight. (See Changes and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet and Nutrition)
- obesity (see supplementary table Problems Increased by Obesity)
- adverse effects on
many body system; increases risk of many diseases;
social, psychological, economic impact
- underweight
- weakness, fatigue, decr. body temp. regulation in cold, decr.
resistance to abnormal and disease conditions, decr.
body reserves for use during stress periods (e.g., recovery from illness)
14. Name the overall uses for the following dietary nutrients: digestible carbohydrates (CHOs), fiber, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, minerals
- digestible CHOs -> energy, raw materials
- fiber -> aids to large intestine functioning,
decrease cholesterol absorption, slows glucose absorption (diabetes)
- lipids -> energy, raw materials, vitamin
absorption, essential fats for essential body molecules (e.g.,.
for clotting factors, regulating BP, immune system),
- proteins -> energy, raw materials, essential
amino acids
- water -> aid digestion, temperature regulation,
circulation, cell size and shape (osmotic pressure)
- vitamins -> assist in many reactions
- minerals -> building material, assist reactions,
nerve and muscle functions
15. Name problems resulting from having inadequate or excessive levels of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, water, vitamins, and minerals.
- see supplementary tables Limiting Intake of Fat, Saturated Fat, and Cholesterol Facts About Vitamins, Facts About Individual Minerals
16. Describe the general characteristics of a diet that can provide proper nutrition and explain the underlying reasons for these characteristics.
- eat a variety of foods in moderation to obtain a complete mixture of the many and varied nutrients needed to support the body's many and varied structures and functions.
17. Explain in general terms why obtaining an adequate diet to obtain nutritional homeostasis becomes more difficult as age increases and why dietary planning must be more individualized as people age.
- incr. adverse age changes, incr. abnormal conditions, incr. diseases, and incr. use of medications in many systems plus adverse social, psychological, and economic changes - > difficulty selecting, obtaining, preparing, eating, and digesting foods and in absorbing and using nutrients
18. Discuss the interactions between nutrition and alcohol consumption, medications, and disease.
- see supplementary table Effects of Alcoholism on Nutrients
19. Describe caloric restriction (CR) and its effects on ML and XL. (See Changes and suggestions for Chapter 11 – Diet and Nutrition)
- CR is reduced caloric intake without malnutrition
for specific nutrients
- results in increases in ML, in XL and in general
health of most animal species studied
- only known technique that increases XL
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