BND2021 Nutritional Biochemistry

• Convenor:  Dr Nirma Samarawickrema
• 6 points
• Monash handbook

This unit aims to provide a basic understanding of the metabolism of macro and micronutrients and of the role of nutrition in influencing cell growth, cancer development, blood formation and gene function. Emphasis will be on clinical relevance, the integration of biochemical pathways and how this is modulated by dietary change, and on techniques used to assess both normal dietary requirements and nutrient deficiencies. Students will be introduced to biochemical mechanisms of energy expenditure and storage, including metabolic adaptation to periods of fasting or food intake.

Lecturing Staff

Dr Nirma Samarawickrema	Mrs Robin Ralston	Prof Rob Pike	Dr Janet Macaulay

Organisation of the unit

BND2021 consists of 2 lectures per week, a one hour  tutorial per week, and one 3 hour small group/practical session per week.

The small group/laboratory sessions will include laboratory exercises, computer exercises, and data analysis and interpretation exercises.

Topics covered

Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre

Revision and extension of carbohydrate structure and function from year 1. Introduction to dietary fibre. 

Proteins and amino acids

Essential amino acids, high biological protein and protein complementarity. Body protein stores. Protein loss in starvation and disease. Nitrogen balance. Amino acids of nutritional interest.

Overview of amino acid metabolism

Reactions involved in the transfer, release and incorporation of nitrogen. Nitrogen excretion. Incorporation of nitrogen into urea (urea cycle). Role of the liver in the synthesis of plasma proteins.

Cholesterol and lipoproteins

Cholesterol metabolism and lipoproteins.

Pathways of lipid metabolism

Clinical significance and clinical lipid disorders

Fuel distribution and tissue utilisation

Fuel distribution and utilisation by the different tissues in the body. Transport of nutrients across cell membranes. Transport of glucose into cells. Conversion of fructose, galactose and mannose as glycolytic intermediates.

Strategies for metabolic control

Strategies for metabolic control and their application to carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The role of enzymes in governing metabolic processes and their use in clinical diagnosis of disease. Role of hormones in regulation of fuel utilization (insulin, glucagon and epinephrine).

Maintenance of glucose homeostasis

Futile cycles in metabolic pathways and mechanisms for their control. Regulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Biochemical and metabolic alterations in alcoholism. Allosteric and hormonal regulation of glycogenesis and glycogenolysis. Rate limiting reactions in fatty acid synthesis/ oxidation.

The big picture of metabolism

Interconversion of macronutrients. The absorptive, post-absorptive and starvation phases

Fad diets and fuel cycles

How does your dietary intake affect your metabolism?  Revision of the big picture.

Diabetes

Role of insulin and glucagon in Diabetes Mellitus type 1 and type 2.

Blood

Composition of blood and the functions of its components. The development of blood cells from a common precursor or hematopoiesis and the development of red blood cells or erythropoiesis. The pathways of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis and the influence of nutrition

Iron

Sources of dietary iron; digestion, absorption, transport, storage and uptake of heme and non-heme iron by the enterocyte and factors that affect these processes. Functions of iron in the body: transport and storage of oxygen, electron transport, cofactors of enzymes. Iron cycling, deficiency and overload

Folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin K

Their dietary sources and bioavailability; digestion, absorption, transport and storage. Their function in metabolism. Effects of deficiency and or excess

Sodium, potassium and iodine

Dietary sources and recommended intakes; absorption, transport and function of these minerals. Deficiency and toxicity of each of these minerals

Water and fluid balance

Water overload and depletion and how to distinguish between dehydration and oedema with regard to the concentration of sodium, potassium and chloride in serum and urine

Niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamins B6 and A

Dietary sources of the vitamins; digestion, absorption, transport and storage. Functions and mechanisms of action. Deficiencies and toxicity

Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D

Dietary sources; digestion, absorption and transport. Regulation of intracellular calcium concentration. Functions and mechanisms of action and conditions relating to their deficiencies and toxicities

Antioxidants

Antioxidant vitamins and minerals: Vitamin C, Vitamin E and selenium 

Cell growth

Normal and cancerous cell growth: dietary and environmental influences. Normal patterns of cell growth, differentiation and programmed cell death. Dietary factors involved in the initiation and promotion of cancer cell growth

Nutrient modulation of gene expression.

Introductory concepts in nutrient modulation of gene expression will be illustrated by various examples including dietary unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A and D and iron.