Nutrition and Metabolism

Recommended Prerequisites

The students should have the scientific background required for in-depth learning of nutritional biochemistry. Prior attendance of the following courses is strongly recommended: Biochemistry I, Biochemistry II, General Physiology and Cellular Biophysics.The students should be proficient in written English, in order to handle the recommended bibliography (mostly books and articles in English) and to carry out the bibliographic searches for the preparation and presentation of bibliographic research essays.

Teaching Methods

Active learning is supported by the following features: (i) problem solving; (ii)  presentation of bibliographic research essays on focused topics at the interface with research.

Essay preparation is carried out by groups of two students, benefiting from the interaction with the teacher within tutorial sessions. Each projects first aims at identifying a current research problem that is relevant for the course; an attempt is then made to solve this problem based on the analysis of published papers. Methods for advanced bibliographic searching are discussed.

Learning Outcomes

Students are expected to acquire advanced knowledge on nutritional biochemistry, with emphasis in:
(i) dietary sources, consumption patterns and biological value of nutrients;
(ii) glucose, triacylglycerol, free fatty acid and amino acid homeostasis;
(iii) lipoproteins and fatty acid / cholesterol traffic;
(iv) hormonal regulation of nutrient energy metabolism; and,
(v) molecular basis of nutrition related diseases.

Nutritional biochemistry is a fast growing, highly interdisciplinary area. It is therefore important that subjects are taught taking into account recent perspectives from research. Also importantly, learning should value conceptual interrelationships, aiming at an integrated view of the covered matters.

Students are expected to strengthen their skills in reading, advanced bibliographic searching, group work and communication, thus stimulating their interest for research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Sources, consumption patterns and biological value of nutrients. Dietary fiber.

Glucose, triacylglycerol, free fatty acid and amino acid homeostasis. Systemic distribution and "stores" of endogenous nutrients.

Transition between nutritional states. Hormonal regulation of metabolic processes in the fed and fasting states.

Synthesis and hydrolysis of triacylglycerol. Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL).

Lipoproteins and apolipoproteins. Capillary lipoprotein lipase (LPL). Hyperlipidemias.

Cholesterol traffic. LDL and direct cholesterol flux. Regulation of intracellular cholesterol. HDL and reverse cholesterol flux.

Cholesterol, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Familial and secondary hypercholesterolemia. Dietary fat and atherogenesis.

Muscle proteolysis, amino acid catabolism and extreme nutritional states (prolonged fasting and starvation).

Biochemical basis of the vegetarian diet.

Head Lecturer(s)

Luís Manuel de Oliveira Martinho do Rosário

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Synthesis work: 20.0%
Frequency: 80.0%

Bibliography

1) Metabolic regulation: a human perspective. K.N. Frayn, Wiley-Blackwell, 3rd ed., 2010;

2) Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. J. Smith & S.S. Gropper, Wadsworth Publishing Co. Inc., 6th ed., 2012;

3) Modern nutrition in health and disease. M.E. Shils, M. Shike, A.C. Ross, B. Caballero & R.J. Cousins (eds.), Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 10th ed., 2005;

4) Lipid biochemistry: an introduction. M.I. Gurr, J.L. Harwood & K.N. Frayn, Wiley-Blackwell, 5th ed., 2002;

5) Lehninger principles of biochemistry. D.L. Nelson & M.M. Cox, W.H. Freeman, 6th ed., 2013.

 

São ainda recomendados vários artigos científicos como bibliografia suplementar.

Several scientific articles are also recommended as supplementary bibliography.