SEKOLAH MENENGAH SERI TEMASIK

LESSON NOTES
BIOLOGY
4G

CHAPTER 6 : NUTRITION
LESSON NO: 4 DATE : 14.7.2016
TIME : 8.30 ~ 10.20am
SUBMISSION DATE : 21.7.2016
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Topic : Type of Nutrition.

Learning Objectives: 1. To understand nutrition.

2. To understand the balanced diet.

Students are able to learn: the importance of type of foods to our body.

Name : _______________________________________________

Class : _______________________________________________

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6.3 Malnutrition
1. Malnutrition results from an unbalanced diet, in which certain nutrients are deficient, in excess, or
are in the wrong proportions.
2. If this condition persists over a long period of time, the person's health will be adversely affected.

Protein deficiency
1. There are two extreme forms of protein deficiency: kwashiorkor and marasmus.
2. In both cases, the mental and physical development of the child is severely impaired.
3. Marasmus
(a) Frequently occurs in children aged
between 9 and 12.
(b) Marasmus is the drastic loss of body
weight due to severe protein deficiency
and a lack of energy-providing nutrients.
(c) The child becomes very thin with
wrinkled skin.

4. Kwashiorkor
(a) A child suffering from kwashiorkor does not receive
sufficient proteins in his diet.
(b) The child has flaky skin, thin muscles, thin hair and a
swelling of the body especially the abdomen because of
the retention of fluid in tissues.
(c) The child normally experiences stunted growth.

Effects of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D deficiencies

1. Deficiency in calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
2.
(a) Osteoporosis occurs as a result of an insufficient intake of calcium. This causes the bones to
become brittle, porous and crack easily.
(b) If not treated, bones will fracture easily, especially at the hips, backbone and wrists. The backbone
may shorten until a person becomes severely bent over. This usually occurs in women.
(c) Studies show that taking calcium and phosphorus supplements and doing regular exercise can
counteract the development of osteoporosis.
3. Osteomalacia (soft bones) usually occurs in pregnant women.
4. Teenagers and adolescents whose diets lack calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are at a higher risk of
getting this disease at old age. This is because bone growth reaches its maximum density before the age
of 35.
5.
(a) To reduce the risk of these two diseases, women need to consume food rich in calcium,
phosphorus and vitamin D such as milk, eggs and liver.
(b) Vitamin D is also required in calcium absorption.
(c) Vitamin D deficiency results in reduced calcium absorption from digested food. This will
encourage calcium intake from bones.

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 (d) Exercise is also important for children and teenagers as this will enable them to achieve
maximum bone density. Examples of exercises that help strengthen bones are walking and
running.
6. The deficiency diseases caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals are given in Table 6.2 and
Table 6.3 respectively.

Effects of excessive intake of nutrients

Excessive intake of carbohydrates
1. The habit of consuming foods rich in carbohydrates will bring about the onset of diabetes mellitus,
obesity and dental caries.
2. A person is described as obese if he weighs 20% more than the average weight that corresponds
to his height.
3. Obese people whose diets are rich in saturated fats tend to have high levels of cholesterol in their
blood.
4. This makes them face a higher risk of developing
(a) cardiovascular disease
(b) high blood pressure
(c) atherosclerosis and an increased risk of stroke and brain
haemorrhage
(d) diabetes mellitus
(e) several types of cancers

5. Taking too much sugar is associated with diabetes mellitus. The presence of excess glucose in the
blood raises the blood glucose level above the normal value. This happens when the body does
not produce sufficient insulin to convert excess glucose into glycogen.

Excessive intake of lipids

1. Excess lipids in the diet are converted into body fat.
2. When a person consumes more calories than are required by his body, the body will store these
excess calories as fats in the adipose tissue.
3. A diet rich in saturated fats can result in cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart and blood
vessels).
4.
(a) Atherosclerosis (Figure 6.9) is a condition when deposits of plaques develop on the internal
lining of the blood vessels.
(b)Plaques consist mainly of fibrous connective tissues and lipids such as cholesterol which
deposit in the arteries.
(c)Plaques cause the narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels. This slows down blood flow and
reduces the ability of the blood vessels to function normally.
5.
(a) Sometimes, the plaques in the arteries become hardened by calcium deposits, resulting in
arteriosclerosis.
(b) Arteriosclerosis (a hardening of the arteries) causes arteries to lose their elasticity.
6.
(a) As arteries become blocked by plaques, the threat of heart attacks and strokes becomes even
greater.
(b) If the coronary artery is partially blocked, the person may have chest pains (angina pectoris).
(c) This means part of the heart is not receiving sufficient oxygen. It is most likely to occur
during strenuous activity or when a person feels intense emotions. Both conditions make the
heart work harder.
(d) A fully blocked coronary artery will result in a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
7. A diet rich in saturated fats can also result in Hypertension or high blood pressure.

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8. The narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels due to atherosclerosis impedes blood flow and raises
the blood pressure.
9.
(a) High blood pressure can cause the small arteries to burst and can lead to strokes if these occur
in the brain.
(b) Strokes occur as a result of the death of nerve tissue in the brain, usually caused by a blockage
of the arteries in the brain. In some cases, strokes can be fatal.
10. Factors that contribute to heart diseases include a diet rich in fats, obesity, lack of exercise and
smoking.
11. To reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, avoid foods rich in fats and red meat, and cigarette
smoking. Consume more fruits and vegetables, exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Excessive intake of minerals

1. An excessive intake of vitamins and minerals can also bring about adverse effects on our health.
2. An excess of minerals will cause an imbalance in the osmotic pressure of body fluids.
3. An excess of sodium is related to high blood pressure, a major factor that contributes to heart
disease and strokes in some people.
4.
(a) Excessive salt and a lack of water can lead to the formation of kidney stones. Kidney stones
can develop when crystals form in the urine and build up in the inner surfaces of the kidney.
(b) The stones may either remain in the kidney or travel down the ureter. This will complicate
kidney function and make urination painful.
5. The kidneys of people who lack exercise and do not perspire work hard to remove the excess salt.
Eventually, this will lead to kidney failure.
6. We should reduce our salt intake to minimise the risk of diseases associated with excessive
mineral salt intake.
7. Excess calcium can also increase the risk of kidney stone formation.
8. Excess iron can lead to liver and kidney damage, kidney toxicity, and death, especially among
children.
Excessive intake of vitamins
1. Generally, an excessive intake of water-soluble vitamins is not harmful to the body, as excess
vitamins are excreted in the urine.
2. However, excess fat-soluble vitamins are not excreted from the body but are deposited in body fat
over time.
3. Therefore, overdoses of fat-soluble vitamins will result in an accumulation of these organic
compounds to toxic levels in the body. Effects of an overdose of vitamins are given in Table 6.4.

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Excessive intake of proteins
1. In the long run, an excessive intake of proteins can increase the uric acid content in the blood.
2. Uric acid forms crystals in the soft tissues of the joints. This condition leads to gout.
3. Uric add can also crystallise and form stones in the kidney and cause kidney damage.
4. To prevent gout and formation of kidney stones, avoid foods high in purine-containing nucleic
acids such as liver, kidneys and sardines.

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