Nutrition, Metabolism and Energy Balance

These flashcards cover essential concepts regarding nutrients, their roles in metabolism, dietary guidelines, and biochemical processes related to energy production.

What are the three major macronutrients that make up the bulk of ingested food?

Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

What is the role of essential nutrients?

Essential nutrients must be eaten because the body cannot synthesize them from other nutrients.

What is the energy value of one dietary Calorie in kilocalories?

1 dietary Calorie equals 1 kilocalorie (kcal).

Name the USDA's MyPlate food groups.

Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, Dairy.

What are the two types of vitamins based on solubility?

Water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins.

What is the range of recommended daily carbohydrate intake as a percentage of total calories?

45–65% of total calories.

What is the main use of glucose in the body?

Glucose is the primary fuel used by cells to make ATP.

What is the difference between anabolism and catabolism?

Anabolism is the synthesis of large molecules from small ones, while catabolism is the breakdown of complex structures into simpler ones.

What is glycolysis?

Glycolysis is a 10-step pathway that breaks glucose into two pyruvic acid molecules and occurs in the cytosol.

During the citric acid cycle, what is produced from each turn of the cycle?

2 CO2, 3 NADH, 1 FADH2, and 1 ATP.

What is the role of NADH in cellular respiration?

NADH acts as an electron carrier that delivers electrons to the electron transport chain.

What happens during oxidative phosphorylation?

Energy from electrons is used to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.

What is the primary function of ketone bodies during fasting or starvation?

Ketone bodies serve as alternative energy sources for the brain and other tissues when glucose is scarce.