Principles of Nutrition, Fluid & Electrolytes, Pharmacologic Support, and ABG Interpretation

Comprehensive practice flashcards defining core vocabulary terms covering essential nutrients, malnutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance, pharmacotherapy for nutrition and GI health, therapeutic diets, enteral/parenteral nutrition, and arterial blood gas interpretation.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The amount of energy required by the body to maintain essential physiological functions while at complete rest.

Catabolism

The metabolic process involving the breakdown of complex organic molecules into simpler compounds, releasing energy.

Anabolism

The metabolic process involving the synthesis of new, complex organic molecules from simpler building blocks.

Nitrogen Balance

The normal physiological condition achieved when the quantity of nitrogen absorbed from dietary intake equals the quantity excreted in urine and feces.

Kilocalorie (kcal)

A precise unit of heat measurement defined as the amount of thermal energy required to raise the temperature of $1\,\text{kg}$ of water by $1^\circ\text{C}$.

Complete Proteins

Proteins containing all essential amino acids that the human body cannot manufacture; typically sourced from animal foods (beef, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs) as well as plant sources like soy and quinoa.

Incomplete Proteins

Proteins derived largely from plant sources (such as cereals, grains, beans, and nuts) that lack one or more essential amino acids, which can be combined to make a complete protein.

Saturated Fats

Fats that hold all the hydrogen atoms they chemically can, found predominantly in animal fats and dairy products, with elevated intake linked to heart disease.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats possessing at least one double (unsaturated) bond, typically liquid vegetable oils at room temperature, associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, and K, which require dietary fat for intestinal absorption, are stored in the liver and adipose tissue, and carry a potential risk of toxicity if consumed in excess.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins B-complex and C, which require water for absorption, dissolve in bodily fluids, are readily excreted through urine, and have a much lower likelihood of toxicity.

Major Minerals

Inorganic macro-minerals required by the body in daily amounts of $100\,\text{mg/day}$ or greater, including calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

Trace Minerals

Essential inorganic minerals needed by the human body in lower concentrations, including iron, zinc, copper, fluoride, and iodine.

MyPlate

A USDA nutritional guideline and visual plate model showing the proportional daily intake of five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.

Pasteurized Donor Human Milk (PDHM)

Heat-treated donor human milk that confers passive immunity, decreases allergen exposure, and protects infants against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, necrotizing GI diseases, and SIDS.

Xerostomia

Dryness of the mouth caused by reduced or absent salivary flow, frequently occurring in older adults as a drug side effect and impairing chewing and swallowing.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A clinical screening tool calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared ($\text{kg/m}^2$) to classify individuals as underweight ($<18.5$), normal ($18.5\text{--}24.9$), overweight ($25\text{--}29.9$), or obese ($\ge 30$).

Central Obesity

Excess truncal or abdominal adipose tissue defined clinically as a waist circumference greater than $35\,\text{inches}$ in females or greater than $40\,\text{inches}$ in males, carrying elevated cardiovascular risk.

Protein-Calorie Malnutrition (PCM)

A state of severe undernutrition where caloric and protein intake fails to meet metabolic demands, characterized by a BMI $<18.9$, impaired wound healing, muscle wasting, and increased infection risk.

Hypovolemia

Deficient circulating intravascular fluid volume marked by hypotension, tachycardia, flat neck veins, oliguria ($<35\,\text{mL/hr}$), elevated hematocrit, and an elevated BUN-to-creatinine ratio.

Hypervolemia

Excessive intravascular and interstitial fluid volume manifesting with hypertension, bounding peripheral pulses, jugular venous distention (JVD), edema, ascites, and pulmonary crackles.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium concentration below $135\,\text{mEq/L}$, presenting clinically with nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, and seizures caused by fluid shifts into brain cells.

Hypernatremia

A serum sodium concentration exceeding $146\,\text{mmol/L}$, characterized by excessive thirst, dry mucous membranes, fever, restlessness, lethargy, and in severe cases seizures.

Hypokalemia

A serum potassium level below $3.4\,\text{mmol/L}$, causing skeletal muscle fatigue, nausea, flattened T waves on electrocardiogram (ECG), and dangerous cardiac dysrhythmias.

Hyperkalemia

A serum potassium level above $5.2\,\text{mmol/L}$, manifesting as muscle weakness, peaked T waves on electrocardiogram (ECG), and severe cardiac conduction abnormalities.

Hypocalcemia

A serum calcium level below $8.5\,\text{mg/dL}$, presenting with paresthesias, tetany, muscle cramping, laryngeal spasms, and positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs.

Hypercalcemia

A serum calcium level exceeding $10.5\,\text{mg/dL}$, presenting with muscle weakness, constipation, anorexia, nausea, bradycardia, and nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).

Hypomagnesemia

A serum magnesium level below $1.6\,\text{mg/dL}$, commonly caused by chronic alcoholism or malabsorption, characterized by neuromuscular irritability, tremors, and dysrhythmias.

Hypermagnesemia

A serum magnesium level exceeding $2.6\,\text{mg/dL}$, presenting with warm flushed skin, hypotension, bradycardia, bradypnea, lethargy, and hyporeflexia.

ROME Mnemonic

An acid-base memory aid meaning 'Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal'—in respiratory disorders, pH and $\text{PaCO}_2$ move in opposite directions; in metabolic disorders, pH and $\text{HCO}_3^-$ move in the same direction.

Ferrous Sulfate

An anti-anemic iron supplement providing essential elemental iron for hemoglobin synthesis; best absorbed on an empty stomach with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and taken with a straw if liquid to prevent teeth staining.

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

A water-soluble anti-anemic vitamin essential for red blood cell formation, administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously for pernicious anemia due to intrinsic factor deficiency or malabsorption.

Folic Acid

A water-soluble B-complex vitamin essential for DNA synthesis and RBC maturation; maternal intake reduces the incidence of embryonic neural tube defects by $70\%$ when taken periconceptionally.

Antacids

Alkaline chemical agents (aluminum, magnesium, calcium, or sodium salts) that neutralize hydrochloric gastric acid and stimulate prostaglandin and mucosal bicarbonate secretion.

H2 Receptor Antagonists

Gastric antisecretory drugs (such as famotidine) that suppress acid secretion by competitively blocking histamine at $H_2$ receptors on gastric parietal cells.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Antisecretory medications (such as omeprazole) that inhibit the gastric $H^+/K^+\text{-ATPase}$ enzyme system; considered the primary pharmacologic agent for healing peptic ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Sucralfate (Carafate)

A gastrointestinal mucosal protectant that binds directly to proteins in damaged tissue at the base of ulcers to form a protective barrier against gastric acid and pepsin.

Misoprostol (Cytotec)

A synthetic prostaglandin $E_1$ analogue that protects the gastric mucosa against ulceration during chronic NSAID therapy; strictly contraindicated in pregnancy due to its abortifacient actions.

Metoclopramide (Reglan)

A prokinetic antiemetic medication that stimulates upper gastrointestinal motility and accelerates gastric emptying by enhancing tissue sensitivity to acetylcholine in the gut.

Ondansetron (Zofran)

A selective serotonin ($5\text{-HT}_3$) receptor antagonist antiemetic that blocks serotonin both peripherally on vagal nerve terminals in the GI tract and centrally in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ).

Clear Liquid Diet

A temporary consistency-modified diet supplying water, clear juices, broth, and gelatin to provide simple carbohydrates and maintain hydration without leaving digestive residue.

Full Liquid Diet

A transition diet comprising all clear liquids plus opaque foods that become liquid at room temperature, such as milk, strained soups, puddings, custards, and yogurt.

Mechanical Soft Diet

A texture-modified diet consisting of cooked, ground, mashed, or minced foods formulated for patients with mastication deficits, carrying a potential risk for constipation due to low dietary fiber.

Pureed Diet

A texture-modified diet where regular foods are blended with liquid into a smooth, cohesive, spoonable consistency suitable for individuals with significant swallowing impairment (dysphagia).

Enteral Nutrition

The delivery of specialized liquid formula feeds directly into a functional stomach or small intestine via nasogastric, PEG, or gastrostomy button tubes.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

A hypertonic, comprehensive intravenous admixture of amino acids, dextrose, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals infused directly into a central vein when the gastrointestinal tract is nonfunctional.

Lipid Emulsion

An intravenous fat emulsion containing essential fatty acids and triglycerides infused weekly alongside parenteral nutrition to deliver concentrated calories and prevent essential fatty acid deficiency.

Mike's Marching Band Suit Method

A mnemonic method for ABG interpretation setting up pH on the top line ($7.35\text{--}7.45$), $\text{PaCO}_2$ in the middle ($35\text{--}45\,\text{mmHg}$), and $\text{HCO}_3^-$ on the bottom ($22\text{--}26\,\text{mEq/L}$), labelled as Acid (A) and Base (B) to determine compensation.