Nutrition Learning Objectives

What 4 things make up nutrition?

Ingestion, Digestion, Absorption into the blood, Assimilating and using nutrients

What are the 6 nutrient Classes?

Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water

What is the building block of Carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides (simple sugars)

Are Carbohydrates Required?

No

Do Carbohydrates provide energy?

Yes

What are the major functions of carbohydrates?

Energy, and being building blocks for lipids

What is the basic structure of a carbohydrate?

C(n) H(2n) O(n).

What is the building block of lipids?

Fatty Acids

Are lipids required?

Yes

Do lipids provide energy?

Yes

What are the major functions of lipids?

Energy, Cell Membranes, Carrying lipid-soluble vitamins, providing essential fatty acids and Biosignaling.

What is the basic structure of a lipid?

HO connected to O and then a bunch of zig zags

What does a triglyceride look like?

Three fatty acid chains together.

Which lipid source is the best?

Animal

Which nutrient provides the most amount of energy?

Fats.

Is Water Required?

Yes

Does water provide energy?

No

What are the major functions of water?

Being a solvent, aiding in transport, heat dissipation, being a source of minerals, and glycolosis

What % of the body is made of water?

~75%

What sources can we get water from?

Drinking water, water in feedstuffs, and metabolically creating water.

What is the building block of protein?

Amino Acids

Is protein required?

Yes

Does protein provide energy?

Yes

What are the major functions of protein?

Structure, Metabolic, Immune, Energy, Movement

What is the basic structure of protein?

While the overall structure is similar to a fat and lipid when it comes to the zig-zag feature, there is always a double bond to oxygen, and a single bond to OH at the end of the structure.

Which protein source is better?

Animal

What is important to note about Amino Acids that is different to other building blocks?

We cannot store Amino Acids in the body, instead excess Amino Acids will be broken down into fats and stored that way.

What is the building block of Vitamins?

Organic Compounds (carbon containing!)

Are Vitamins required?

Yes

Do vitamins provide energy?

No

What are the major functions of Vitamins?

Enzyme function, Immune, Hormone Regulation, Bone formation, Antioxidants, Vision, Blood Clotting, and more.

What is the difference between a water soluble and fat soluble vitamin?

Water soluble vitamins have B complexes + Carbon and CANNOT be stored.

Fat soluble vitamins do not have B complexes and CAN be stored.

What are the fat soluble vitamins?

ADEK

What is the building block of Minerals?

Inorganic Compounds (Not containing carbon)

Are minerals required?

Yes

Do minerals provide energy?

No

What are the major functions of minerals?

Providing co-factors for enzymes, metabolic, body structure, pH, and water balance.

What is the difference between a macro mineral and a micro mineral?

Macro minerals are needed in larger amounts and micro minerals (trace minerals) are needed in smaller amounts

What are the 8 roles of the Digestive Tract (DIT)

1. Digestion

2. Absorption

3. Immune/barrier

4. Movement of digesta

5. Removal of waste

6. Acquiring food

7. Adaptation

8. Regulation

What are the 4 GIT types and the 2 categories they live in?

Monogastric - Omnivores (complex foregut), Carnivores (simple), Herbivores (complex hindgut)

Pre-Gastric Fermenters - Herbivores (ruminants)

Provide an example of a Complex Foregut Omnivore

Human

Pig

Dog

Provide an example of a Simple Carnivore

Cat

Provide an example of a Complex Hindgut Herbivore

Horse

Rat

Provide an example of a Ruminant Herbivore

Cattle/Cow

Sheep

Where do Omnivores perform fermentation?

Large Intestine

What differentiates an omnivore’s teeth?

Incisors for cutting, Canines for ripping/tearing, and molars for grinding

What does the size comparison of parts of an Omnivore’s GIT look like?

Each section is relatively equal in size

Where do carnivores perform fermentation?

They do not.

How does a carnivore’s teeth differentiate from other diet types?

Fewer molars, extremely pronounced and sharp canines and incisors

What does the size comparison of parts of an Carnivore’s GIT look like?

The stomach is larger in size compared to other parts of the GIT.

Where do Complex Hindgut Herbivores perform fermentation?

The Large Intestine (Cecum and Colon)

What differentiates a Complex Hindgut Herbivore’s teeth?

No canines, Many large, flat molars, and few sharp incisors

What does the size comparison of parts of a complex hindgut herbivore’s GIT look like?

The large intestine is the largest size in comparison to the rest of the GIT

Where does a ruminant herbivore perform fermentation?

The RRO (Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum) AND The Large Intestine

What does the size comparison of parts of a ruminant herbivore’s GIT look like?

The stomach has the largest size compared to the rest of the GIT

What differentiates a ruminant herbivore’s teeth?

No canines, Many large, flat molars, and few sharp incisors

What differentiates Avian teeth?

Avians typically do not have teeth, and use their beaks to break up feed when necessary

What is the order of an Avian’s GIT?

1. Mouth

2. Esophagus

3. Crop

4. Proventriculus

5. Gizzard

6. Small Intestine

7. Large Intestine

8. Cloaca

What is the purpose of the Crop?

A flexible storage pouch in avians that stores food before entering the proventriculus

What is the proventriculus?

Gastric Stomach of Avian species

What is the purpose of the gizzard?

Grinding up food before entering the Small Intestine

What is the ventriculus?

Another term for the Gizzard

What is the effect of the GIT on Birds?

Avians need a low fiber diet, most do not ferment.

Why is the gizzard important to avian species?

Without teeth an avian species can not break down food particles. The gizzard allows smaller particle size, increasing surface area and digestibility of feed.

Why is a small particle size important for digestion?

Smaller particle size allows for a larger surface area of the food particles, therefore allowing easier digestion

Which bird species can ferment food?

The Stink Bird

What is special about a hindgut fermenter’s Large Intestine?

It is much larger than other species, is ensacculated, and contains many ridges.

What is the major difference between the relationship of nutrients between microbes and the animal in Hindgut fermenters vs. Foregut fermenters?

In Hindgut fermenters the animal gets the nutrients before microbial fermentation, whereas in Foregut fermenters the microbes obtain the nutrient before the animal does.

What is the difference in length of time that digesta remains in the GIT between hindgut and foregut fermenters?

The digesta in in foregut fermenters travels much quicker than the digesta of in a hindgut fermenter

What is the definition of fermentation?

Microbes are metabolizing nutrients to gain energy for themselves and in the process, co-products are formed.

Who does fermentation?

Microbes

What are microbes doing during fermentation?

Breaking down and metabolizing nutrients

Why do microbes ferment food?

To gain energy for themselves

What is the benefit of the host in fermentation?

Volatile Fatty Acids

What is the benefit of microbes in fermentation?

energy, a place to live, and nutrients.

What is the order of the digestive tract of a Ruminant?

Mouth, esophagus, Rumen, Reticulum, Obasum, Abomasum, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Anus

Where is Protein Digested?

Gastric Stomach and Small Intestine

Where are Fats Digested?

Mouth and Small Intestine

Where are Carbs Digested?

Mouth and Small Intestine

Where are Vitamins and Minerals Digested?

Gastric Stomach and Small Intestine

Which nutrients are absorbed in the Small Intestine?

Amino Acids, Fatty Acids, Glucose, Vitamins and Minerals

Which nutrients are absorbed in the Large Intestine?

VFA’s, Water and Electrolytes

How does Pepsinogen get converted into Pepsin?

Pepsinogen + HCL = Pepsin

What are the 4 roles of the mouth?

1. Food Acquisition

2. Mechanical Digestion

3. Chemical Digestion

4. Immune Defense

What are the 2 roles of the stomach?

1. Chemical Digestion

2. Immune Defense

What are the 2 functions of HCL?

1. Kill Pathogens and Microbes

2. Denature Proteins

What are the 5 functions of the Small Intestine?

1. Chemical Digestion

2. Absorption

3. Immune Defense

4. Adaptation

5. Movement of Digesta

What are the 3 functions of the Large Intestine?

1. Absorption

2. Fermentation (hindgut fermenters only)

3. Shaping and expelling waste

What are the 3 Functions of the Pancreas?

1. Metabolizing/Producing Hormones (Insulin!)

2. Secreting Digestive Enzymes

3. Producing Bicarbonate

What is the importance of bicarbonate?

Bicarbonate is a buffer in the Small Intestine from the acidity of HCL

What are the 6 Functions of the Liver?

1. Production of Bile (MOST IMPORTANT)

2. Metabolizes things like steroids

3. First dibs at blood nutrients

4. Short term energy storage (glycogen)

5. Detoxification

6. Stores some Vitamins and Minerals

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Storing and Releasing Bile

Which Specialized organ is NOT present in all mammalian species?

The gallbladder

What are the 4 functions of the Kidneys?

1. Detoxification

2. Urea Cycle

3. Excretion of Waste

4. Water Balance

What are the 5 functions of the Brain in nutritional science?

1. Controling nervous system

2. Highly involved in satiety

3. Produces metabolic and gastrointestinal hormones

4. Target of Hormones

5. Regulation of secretion, motility and so much more

What is a species-based difference between simple monogastrics and a hindgut fermenting monogastric like horses?

A large intestine (cecum and colon) that is much larger in size, performs fermentation, and is ensacculated.

What is the function of Salivary amylase?

An enzyme that breaks down monosaccharides like starch in the mouth

What is the function of Pepsin?

An enzyme that breaks down proteins.

What is the function of Rennin?

An enzyme that coagulates milk in baby mammals.

What are 4 ways the stomach protects itself from HCL?

1. Mucus Layers

2. The way parietal cells regulate HCL secretions to only when there is food intake

3. Stratified squamous epithelium protect newly growing cells

4. Production of Bicarbonate