General Biochemistry

BIOC 201
CHAPTER I
Nutrition and Metabolism
 Chapter Objectives
1. The main objective of this chapter is
getting the student to understand the
fundamental constituents of human food.
2. The chapter is designed to familiarize
the student with the basic classification of
each constituent.
3. To provide the student with the
fundamental concepts and terminology of
nutrition and metabolism.
 BIOCHEMISTRY
Definition of Nutrition
It is the science of food and its relationship
to health and diseases.
The science deals with nature and
distribution of nutrients in food, metabolic
effects and the consequences of
inappropriate food intake.
Nutrients are chemical compounds in foods,
absorbed and promote health.
 Human Food
(6 main nutrients)
1. Carbohydrates
2. Fats
3. Proteins
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals
6. Water
 Human Food (cont.,)
(6 main nutrients)
Essential nutrient:
Vitamins
Minerals
Amino acids
Fatty acids
Some carb. (energy)
Nonessential nutrients:
Synthesized inside the body from other
cpds.,
Carbohydrates nutrient

Food carbohydrates:
Simple, derived from fruits, sugar.
Complex, derived from grains, veggies,
fruits and beans.
Represents 55-60% of total caloric intake.
Main fuel source, supplying 4.1 calories/g
Lipids as nutrient
Represent 30% of total caloric intake.
Supply 9.3 calories/g
Act as body insulator against heat loss.
Protect internal organs.
Carry fat soluble vitamins.
Lipids as nutrient
Polyunsaturated fatty acids:
Fish and oils (corn & sunflower).
Mono-unsaturated fatty acids:
Nuts and oils (olive, peanut, canola).
Saturated fatty acids:
Meats, dairy products, and tropical oils(coconut &
palm).
Raise blood cholesterol (shouldn’t exceed 10% of the
daily intake).
Liver, meat and egg yolk limited to 300 mg/day.
Proteins as nutrient
Represent 15% of the total caloric intake.
Supply 4.7 calories/g
Participate in building and repair body
tissues.
Form enzymes, hormones and antibodies.
Found in meat, eggs, fish, poultry, beans,
nuts and dairy products.
Vitamins as nutrient
Essential organic substance needed in small
quantities.
Needed for growth, health and life!
Needed for vision, DNA formation, bone
ossification, RBCs formation, maintenance
of skin, blood clotting, general metabolism.
Vitamins as nutrient
Fat soluble vitamins:
A, D, E, and K
Water soluble vitamins:
B complex and C.
True vitamin deficiency is rare.
Vitamins are necessary for certain
populations (infants, elderly, pregnant and
patients).
Minerals as nutrients
Principal elements:
Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus,
magnesium, sulfur and chlorine.
Trace elements:
Iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, fluorine,
selenium, cobalt, molybdenum, and chromium.
Supplied by food and water.
May be necessary for certain populations.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM)
WHO definition: The cellular imbalance
between the supply of nutrients and energy
and the body’s demand for them to ensure
growth, maintenance, and specific
functions.
Applied to a group of related disorders:
Marasmus
Kwashiorkor
Intermediate states of both.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM)
It is a problem in many developing
countries.

Affects children between 6 months – 5 years.

It’s a result of lack of food or infections

cause loss of appetite.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM) cont.,

Children between 12 and 36 month are

always at risk (vulnerable to gastroenteritis
and measles).

Children with severe PEM are at risk of

hypoglycemia, hypothermia, serious
infections and severe electrolyte
disturbances.
 METABOLISIM
It is the sum of all chemical reactions
occurring in the cells of an organism.
It involves the changes that occur to
foodstuffs.
Carried out by ENZYMES.
ENZYMES are proteins that functions as
biological catalysts.
ENZYMES changes the rate of reaction
without being consumed.
 METABOLISIM

ANABOLISM CATABOLISM
(constructive metabolism) (destructive metabolism)
 Anabolism
Synthesis of macromolecules from
simple ones.
Required for the growth of new
cells and the maintenance of all
tissues.
 Catabolism

It is breaking down of large

molecules into smaller ones.