NUT232 Nutritional Biochemistry

What is this course about?

Description

Nutritional biochemistry introduces you to the structural and functional characteristics of macronutrients (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins), dietary fibre and vitamins in food consumed by humans. You will learn about the biochemical mechanisms associated with the digestion and assimilation of macronutrients, and you are introduced to analytical techniques in food biochemistry. In the context of human nutrition assessment, you will also explore the importance of biochemical testing in the diagnosis and management of common metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemias and aminoacidopathies.

How will this course be delivered?

Course Topics

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

MBT251 or LFS251

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

BIM212 or BIM352 or BIM252

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

It is recommended that students have prior knowledge and skills in chemistry, biochemistry and human physiology.

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

Details of early feedback on progress

In Week 3, you will be submitting the Practical 1 Basic Laboratory Competencies Report (Task 1a) worth 5% of your final course grade. During Practical 1 in Week 1, you will complete a set of laboratory competencies commonly used in biochemistry. You will be expected to attempt a set of exercises, including laboratory maths, for the Task 1a Report based on the work you complete during Practical 1. The report will be submitted online via Turnitin on Canvas. The feedback provided by your course coordinator on your Task 1a Report will give you confidence in undertaking the remaining practical classes in the NUT232 course.

Assessment tasks

Completion of laboratory exercises in the form of short practical reports submitted online via Turnitin throughout the semester. Approximately 2500 words in total.

1-hour duration

2-hour duration

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

Schedule

Foundation principles in nutritional science.

What is nutritional biochemistry?
Classification of the food nutrients.
Nutrient reference values (NRVs).
Energy content of food; Atwater factors.
Gross energy of food and the bomb calorimeter.
Digestible energy and metabolizable energy of food.

Pathology testing and nutrition assessment.

The modern pathology laboratory and sub-disciplines.
Clinical biochemistry and biochemical laboratory tests in pathology.
Types of human specimens.
Diagnostic tests and reference ranges.
Impact of biological and laboratory factors on pathology testing.
Introduction to blood collection.
Blood plasma, blood serum and capillary blood.
Urine collection techniques.

Dietary proteins and amino acids.

Amino acids, peptides, polypeptides and proteins.
Classification and essentiality of dietary amino acids.
Metabolic disorders of amino acid metabolism; aminoacidopathies.
Dietary protein quality and limiting amino acids.
Nitrogen balance in humans.
Recommended dietary protein intakes.
Measuring total serum protein.

Digestion and absorption of dietary proteins.

Digestion of dietary proteins in the stomach and small intestine.
Digestive enzymes (zymogens, endopeptidases, exopeptidases).
Regulatory peptides in the small intestine.
Amino acid and peptide transport in the mucosal cells of the small intestine.

Dietary carbohydrates.

Classification of dietary carbohydrates.
Free sugars in food: monosaccharides, disaccharides and sugar alcohols.
The short-chain carbohydrates (oligosaccharides) in food.
Food polysaccharides: types of starch (RDS, SDS, RS)
The glycaemic index

Dietary fibre.

Definition of dietary fibre and functional fibre.
Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP).
Cellulose, beta-glucans, pectin, hemicelluloses, lignin
Galactose oligosaccharides, fructans.
Resistant starch (RS) as dietary fibre.
Physiological and metabolic effects of dietary fibre.
Dietary fibre in disease prevention.
Recommended dietary intakes of dietary fibre.

Digestion and absorption of dietary carbohydrates.

Digestion of dietary carbohydrates in the mouth and small intestine.
Salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylases.
Role of brush border enzymes in the small intestine.
Lactose and sucrose intolerances.
Absorption of glucose, galactose and fructose.
Liver (hepatic) metabolism of glucose and other monosaccharides.

Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. Diabetes mellitus and prediabetes.

Hormonal control of blood glucose.
Hypoglycaemia.
Overview of diabetes mellitus and associated complications.
Metabolism in Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Criteria for the diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes.
Other carbohydrate-related diagnostic tests.

Biochemistry of the dietary lipids.

Classification of dietary lipids.
Common fatty acids in the human diet.
Food triglycerides (fats and oils).
Saponification and hydrogenation of food triglycerides.
Food sterols, steroids, phospholipids and glycolipids.

Digestion of dietary lipids. Alcohol absorption and metabolism.

Biochemical processes associated with the digestion of food lipids.
Role of digestive enzymes (esterases) and bile acids in food lipid digestion.
Formation of lipid-containing micelles.
Absorption of alcohol (ethanol) in the human gastrointestinal tract.
Ethanol oxidation pathways in the human body.
Alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde pathway.
Microsomal ethanol oxidising system (MEOS).
Catalase in peroxisomes.

Transport of dietary lipids and disorders of lipid metabolism.

Absorption of digestion derived lipids in the small intestine.
Formation of chylomicrons in the small intestine.
Structural characteristics of blood lipoproteins.
Role of blood lipoproteins in transporting lipids throughout the human body.
Lipoprotein(a).
Hyperlipidaemia and cardiovascular disease risk.
The blood serum lipid profile.

Overview of the vitamins. Biochemistry of water-soluble vitamins B1, B2, B3 and folate

Properties of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
Biochemistry of the water soluble vitamins.
Thiamin (vitamin B1).
Riboflavin (vitamin B2).
Niacin (vitamin B3).
Folic acid (folate).

Biochemistry of fat-soluble vitamins D and E.

Vitamin D (cholecalciferol).
Vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols).

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Specific requirements

You will be required to purchase the NUT232 Course Manual from Print at USC. In addition, you will be required to bring along a laboratory coat, safety glasses and closed non-slip footwear to the course practical classes.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment.

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%.
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: 
- 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 
- A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

• Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
• Review of Assessment and Final Grades
• Supplementary Assessment
• Central Examinations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Conduct
• Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

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