Nursing Elites

1. In addition to poor eating habits, a factor that often contributes to marginal nutritional status is:

• A. dependence on caffeine.
• B. acute illness.
• C. low income.
• D. size of the family unit.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Low income is a significant factor contributing to marginal nutritional status due to limited access to nutritious food. While dependence on caffeine or acute illness can impact health, they are not as directly linked to marginal nutrition as low income. The size of the family unit may affect food distribution within the household but is not as directly related to marginal nutritional status as low income.

2. Which nutrient has a protein-sparing effect?

• A. Glycerol
• B. Carbohydrate
• C. Nitrogen
• D. Fatty acids

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Carbohydrates have a protein-sparing effect, meaning that adequate carbohydrate intake can prevent the use of protein for energy. Glycerol, nitrogen, and fatty acids do not have a protein-sparing effect. Glycerol is a component of fats and oils, nitrogen is a component of proteins, and fatty acids are used primarily as an energy source.

3. How is resistant starch digested in the colon?

• A. bacterial fermentation.
• B. pancreatic amylase.
• C. hydrochloric acid.
• D. villi and microvilli.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In the colon, resistant starch is digested by bacterial fermentation. The correct answer is A. During this process, short-chain fatty acids are produced. Pancreatic amylase, as mentioned in choice B, is responsible for breaking down starch in the small intestine, not in the colon. Choice C, hydrochloric acid, functions in the stomach to aid in the digestion of proteins, not starch. Villi and microvilli, as stated in choice D, are structures in the small intestine that absorb nutrients; they do not participate in the digestion of resistant starch in the colon.

4. What is the cause of gas formation in the colon?

• A. Consuming refined foods.
• B. Drinking excess water.
• C. Swallowing air while eating.
• D. Bacterial action on organic compounds.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Gas formation in the colon is primarily due to bacterial fermentation of undigested carbohydrates. Choice A, consuming refined foods, is incorrect as gas formation is not directly linked to refined foods but rather undigested carbohydrates. Choice B, drinking excess water, is incorrect as water consumption does not lead to gas formation in the colon. Choice C, swallowing air while eating, is incorrect as this may cause belching but not gas formation in the colon. The correct answer is D because bacterial action on organic compounds, specifically undigested carbohydrates, leads to gas production in the colon.

5. In an analysis of the amino acid composition of foods, the amino acid occurring in the smallest amount is called:

• A. indispensable.
• B. dispensable.
• C. complementary.
• D. limiting.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'limiting.' In the analysis of the amino acid composition of foods, the amino acid that occurs in the smallest amount is referred to as the limiting amino acid. This term is used because when one essential amino acid is deficient, it limits the synthesis of proteins, making it crucial in determining protein quality. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. 'Indispensable' and 'dispensable' refer to the essentiality of amino acids, and 'complementary' does not describe the concept of the amino acid occurring in the smallest amount.

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