Ch 6

anemia

a hematologic disorder marked by a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood to abnormally low levels

basal metabolic rate

rate at which the body uses calories

blood urea nitrogen

a measure of the amount of urea, the end product of protein metabolism, in the blood

body mass index

a measure of a person’s relative size based on their height and weight

calories

unit of heat that is used to measure the available energy in consumed food

carbohydrates

sugars and starches that constitute the main source of energy for all body functions, particularly brain functions, and that are necessary for the metabolism of other nutrients

complementary proteins

two or more incomplete proteins that combine to form a complete protein

complete proteins

a protein containing all of the essential amino acids necessary for the dietary needs of humans

creatinine

a substance commonly found in blood that is formed from the metabolism of creatine

dietary reference intakes

developed by the US National Academy of Sciences, guidelines for evaluating the diets of healthy people and estimating their optimal nutrient intake

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

edema

the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces of tissues due to increased capillary fluid pressure

electrolyte

an element or compound that, when melted or dissolved in water or another solvent, dissociates into ions and can conduct an electric current

frailty syndrome

weight loss, characterized by increased susceptibility to stressors and can lead to negative health outcomes and functional impairment

hematocrit

a measure of the packed cell volume of red blood cells, expressed as a percentage of the total blood volume

hemoglobin

a complex protein-iron molecule that is responsible for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the bloodstream

interstitial

pertaining to the space between cells, as in interstitial fluid, or between organs

intracellular

pertaining to the interior of a cell, as in intracellular fluid, a fluid within cell membranes throughout most of the body, containing dissolved solutes that are essential to electrolytic balance and healthy metabolism

intravascular

pertaining to the inside of a blood vessel

malnutrition

any disorder of nutrition resulting from an unbalanced, insufficient, or excessive diet or from impaired absorption, assimilation, or use of foods

minerals

inorganic chemical elements required in many of the body’s functions

nasogastric

pertaining to the nose and stomach, as in nasogastric intubation, the placement of a nasogastric tube through the nose into the stomach to relieve gastric distention by removing gas, gastric secretions, or food.

proteins

any of a large group of naturally occurring complex organic compounds, composed of amino acids, essential for tissue repair and healing

supplement

as in nutritional supplement, a nutrient added to complete, make up for a deficiency, and extend or strengthen the diet

trace element

an element essential to nutrition or physiological processes, found in such minute quantities that analysis yields the presence of only trace amounts

vitamins

organic compounds found naturally in foods or produced synthetically