OVERVIEW

The course deals with the basics of the physiology of digestive function in humans and the importance of proper nutrition for maintaining health. The course is a first starting point for those who want to deepen the theme of human nutrition.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the physiology of nutrition in humans and of the systems that regulate it in physiological conditions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participation in the course will allow students of the Biological Sciences Degree to acquire the general knowledge and basic notions of the physiology of nutrition in humans, which are necessary for the career opportunities of the biologist in the field of Human Nutrition.

The course aims to provide a complete vision of the physiology of nutrition, starting from the study of basal metabolic rate and food requirements, from the detailed examination of the digestive processes and their regulation, up to the nervous and endocrine regulation of metabolism and food intake in physiological conditions.

 The student must be able to:

• Know food requirements.

• Know how the organism digests, absorbs and uses macronutrients.

• Know the importance of micronutrients.

• Acquire an integrated view of the processes that regulate human nutrition.

• Understand the importance of proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle for maintaining health.

• Acquire a critical view of the many food "fads" that are often spread by the mass media.

PREREQUISITES

The following basic knowledge of chemistry and physiology is required to effectively address the teaching content: 1) organic chemistry, 2) biochemistry, 3) animal physiology.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching method includes 8 lectures of 2 hours each. Lessons are delivered through multimedia presentations. Frequency is highly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Food and nutrients. Requirements. Basal metabolism. Calorimetry. Energy balance. Energy depots. Water requirement. Secretion and absorption of water in the alimentary canal.

Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.

Digestion and absorption of proteins. Essential amino acids.

Digestion and absorption of lipids. Cholesterol homeostasis. Plasma lipoproteins.

Endocrine regulation of metabolism. Absorption and post-absorption phases. Endocrine pancreas. Glycemic index. Fasting. Metabolic effects of adrenaline, cortisol, growth hormone.

Neuroendocrine regulation of food intake. Short- and long-term hunger and satiety signals. Hypothalamic centers of hunger and satiety.

Metabolism during stress response. Relations between stress and eating behavior. Epigenetic metabolism programming. Biological effects of food. Feeding and inflammation. Caloric and protein restriction. High-protein diets. Ketogenic diet.

Dietary fiber. Water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Absorption of Iron. Absorption of calcium.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

-Silverthorn Fisiologia CEA

- Sherwood Fisiologia Umana Zanichelli

The multimedia material used during the lessons will be made available on AulaWeb, together with any useful articles for the deepening of certain topics.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ILARIA DEMORI (President)

ELENA GRASSELLI

ADRIANA VOCI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

For  lessons start and timetables, please see the following link: http: //www.distav.unige.it/ccsbio/orario-lezioni-triennale

Class schedule

NUTRITIONAL PHYSIOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral interview of about twenty minutes, conducted by a commission consisting of at least two members, during which the student will have to explain some of the topics covered in class. At least 2 calls will be available in the winter session (January-February) and 5 calls in the summer session (June, July, September).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The Commission verifies the achievement of the educational objectives by asking different questions related to the program actually carried out during the lessons. Details on the degree of in-depth knowledge for each topic will be provided during the lessons.

The oral examination allows to evaluate the knowledge of the fundamental elements of the subject and the ability to link the various topics. During the interview the Commission will verify if the student has acquired the ability to apply the theoretical concepts to simple concrete contexts. The quality of the speech and the use of the correct specialized scientific terminology will also be evaluated. When the training objectives are not achieved, the student is invited to better verify his / her knowledge and possibly to make use of further explanations by contacting the teacher in charge of the course.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular frequency is strongly recommended.