Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies Quiz

Adaptation to Biological Stressors: Malnutrition

• This lecture covers the topic of adaptation to biological stressors, focusing on malnutrition.
• The presentation mentions malnutrition and infectious diseases as two parts of the topic, with malnutrition being addressed in this first part.
• Three types of malnutrition are discussed: too little, too much, and poorly balanced.

Protein-Calorie Malnutrition (PCM)

• PCM, or too little, involves periods of starvation, inadequate food quantity, and poor quality.

Overabundance

• Overabundance refers to consuming too much of certain nutrients.

Chronic Micronutrient Malnutrition

• This type involves an unbalanced diet, lacking specific micronutrients.

Global Obesity Crisis

• A news report mentioned that obesity is now a larger health concern than malnutrition globally, with over 3 million deaths annually.

Malnutrition: Prevalence Map

• Geographical maps illustrate the global distribution of undernutrition, showing differing levels in various regions.

Malnutrition: Obesity Prevalence Map

• Maps demonstrate global variations in the prevalence of obesity.

Nutrients vs. Food

• The presentation distinguishes between nutrients (energy and materials; macronutrients like carbs, proteins, and fats; and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals) and the food sources that contain them.

Protein Structure, Function

• Protein structure is formed from amino acids, creating peptide chains and ultimately protein structures.
• Protein function is highly variable, but can be broken down into amino acids.

Proteins to Amino Acids

• When proteins are broken down, amino acids are extracted and used for other amino acid production .
• Some essential amino acids need to be consumed because the body cannot create them.

Protein Quality of Foods

• Mesoamerican diets (including Maya/Aztec and modern Mexican) commonly feature beans and maize, diets with balanced essential amino acid ratios.

Protein Deficiency

• Regional maps pinpoint areas with concerning levels of protein deficiency, specifically linking them to stunting.

Energy Reserves

• Total Undernutrition (PCM) involves a reduction in total diet intake, lacking protein/energy sufficiency and affecting glycogen, fat, and protein reserves.
  • Glycogen is the short-term energy source stored in the liver and muscles.
  • Fat is a long-term energy storehouse.
  • The body utilizes protein for energy when other sources are exhausted.

Biology of Deficiency

• When glycogen and fat reserves are depleted, protein breakdown occurs in muscles and other tissues.
  • Deficiencies in protein directly impact the immune system and increase susceptibility to illness
  • Children are more vulnerable to disruptions as a result of protein deficiency
  • Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are two types of severe malnutrition conditions.

Growth Disruptions

• Children have similar growth patterns, but a necessary protein intake is required to sustain growth.
  • Stunting is reduced growth in height.
  • Wasting is low weight for height.
  • Harris lines are evidence of slowed bone growth due to physiological stress.

Micronutrient Deficiencies

• Micronutrient deficiencies stem from poor-quality diets and relying solely on a limited variety of foods, potentially lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin A

• Vitamin A, derived from beta-carotene, is stored in the liver, crucial for rhodopsin (important for vision) production and tissue health.
• Deficiency symptoms include scaly skin, eye problems, and brittle nails.
• A global map illustrates regional variations in vitamin A levels.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

• Vitamin B1 plays a role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, neurotransmitter production, and myelin production—important for nerve function.
• A deficiency in vitamin B1 causes Beriberi disease (characterized by wet or dry forms).
• Different types of rice contain substantial amounts of vitamin B1, so the rice type impacts nutrient intake.

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C is vital for collagen production, crucial for tissue health.
• A historical scarcity of vitamin C led to scurvy symptoms, involving swollen gums, loose teeth, and skin lesions..
• Deficiency can affect populations during specific times such as late winter/early spring in specific regions.

Vitamin D

• Vitamin D (calcitriol) stimulates calcium absorption in the intestines, important for bone health.
• Deficiency can lead to osteomalacia (poorly mineralized bones).
• Children lacking adequate vitamin D may develop Rickets.

Electrolytes

• Electrolytes are mineral compounds with electric charges that play critical roles in bodily functions, including various cellular processes and fluid regulation.
• Essential electrolytes include magnesium, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

Iron Deficiency

• Iron deficiency is a common global health issue associated with Anemia—a condition involving low red blood cell count and associated with fatigue and neurological disorders.
• Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, neurological issues, sore muscles, and immune deficiency.
• A map indicates regional variations in the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia.

Iodine

• Iodine is a needed component to producing thyroid hormone.
• Critical for regulating growth and metabolism.
• Iodide deficiency correlates with thyroid gland enlargement (goiter).
• Insufficient iodine production results in hypothyroidism.

Lactose Tolerance

• Lactose, a sugar in milk, is digested with the enzyme lactase.
• Lactase activity declines with age.
• Lactose intolerance is common and results from lactase restrictions, leading to malabsorption.
• Variations in Lactose tolerance are tied to specific genetic alleles and geographical regions.

Convergent Evolution

• Lactase persistence evolved differently in varied geographic regions, with distinct genetic events and specific genetic markers.
• Selective pressures over thousands of years drove the development of the trait.
• Cultural traditions, such as animal domestication and milk consumption, likely played a significant role in selecting for this trait..

Co-evolution of Genes and Culture

• Pastoralism and milk consumption have influenced the prevalence of lactase persistence.
• Some benefits of milk consumption include carbohydrates, fats, calcium, and protein; and drawbacks for individuals with lactose intolerance are diarrhea or water loss.

Tinbergen's Four Questions

• The lecture raises the practical application of Tinbergen's four questions in explaining the variability in lactase persistence.

Criticism of Claims

• Human biologists might criticize claims linking specific racial groups to observed genetic traits in lactose tolerance, highlighting the scientific inaccuracies and pitfalls in such interpretations.

Test your knowledge on nutrition-related diseases and deficiencies with this quiz. It covers essential vitamins, macronutrients, and the effects of malnutrition on health. Explore questions about specific conditions, their causes, and the role of nutrients in the body.