Nutrition and Diet Therapy_ University Final Exam Questions and Answers with Verified Solutions(2).

Nutrition and Diet Therapy: University Final Exam Questions
and Answers with Verified Solutions

Examination Title Nutrition and Diet Therapy University Final
Examination


Specialty Coverage Macronutrient Physiology, Micronutrients &
Metabolism, Clinical Dietetics, Medical Nutrition
Therapy, Life Cycle Nutrition


Passing Standard 75% Correct Responses


Edition Specification Latest Master Review Edition (75 Assessment Items)



Module 1: Macronutrient Metabolism & Energy Balance (Questions 1–15)



Question 1
A client asks which macronutrient provides the primary energy source for red blood cells and
central nervous system tissues. What is the correct response?
• A) Essential fatty acids
• B) Amino acids
• C) Glucose
• D) Ketone bodies
Correct Answer: C) Glucose
Red blood cells lack mitochondria and rely exclusively on anaerobic glycolysis using glucose. The brain also
relies primarily on glucose under normal metabolic conditions.



Question 2
What is the physiological caloric density provided per gram of dietary protein?
• A) 9 kcal/g
• B) 4 kcal/g
• C) 7 kcal/g
• D) 2 kcal/g
Correct Answer: B) 4 kcal/g
Proteins and carbohydrates both supply 4 kcal/g, whereas lipids yield 9 kcal/g and alcohol yields 7 kcal/g.



Question 3
Which enzyme initiated in the mouth begins the chemical breakdown of complex starches?

, • A) Pepsin
• B) Salivary amylase
• C) Pancreatic lipase
• D) Trypsin
Correct Answer: B) Salivary amylase
Salivary amylase hydrolyzes internal alpha-1,4-glycosidic bonds in starch to convert complex carbohydrates
into dextrins and maltose.



Question 4
Which dietary fiber component dissolves in water to form a gel, helping lower serum cholesterol
levels and slow glucose absorption?
• A) Cellulose
• B) Lignin
• C) Pectin
• D) Hemicellulose
Correct Answer: C) Pectin
Soluble fibers such as pectin, gums, and beta-glucans form viscous gels in the gastrointestinal tract that
trap bile acids, promoting their excretion and lowering serum LDL cholesterol.



Question 5
What essential fatty acid must be provided through the diet because human cells cannot
introduce double bonds before carbon-9?
• A) Oleic acid
• B) Alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3)
• C) Stearic acid
• D) Palmitic acid
Correct Answer: B) Alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3)
Alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6) are essential fatty acids that humans cannot
synthesize de novo due to a lack of specific desaturase enzymes.



Question 6
Which lipoprotein particle transports dietary lipids absorbed from the intestine through the
lymphatic system to systemic tissues?
• A) Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)
• B) Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
• C) Chylomicron
• D) High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
Correct Answer: C) Chylomicron
Chylomicrons are formed in intestinal enterocytes to package re-esterified dietary triglycerides and fat-
soluble vitamins for transport via lacteals into systemic circulation.



Question 7
A post-operative surgical client experiences nitrogen balance deficit. How is negative nitrogen

, balance defined chemically?
• A) Nitrogen intake exceeds nitrogen output
• B) Nitrogen excretion exceeds dietary nitrogen intake
• C) Protein synthesis equals protein degradation
• D) Absolute absence of urinary urea nitrogen
Correct Answer: B) Nitrogen excretion exceeds dietary nitrogen intake
Negative nitrogen balance occurs when tissue protein catabolism exceeds protein synthesis, common in
trauma, severe burns, starvation, and major infection.



Question 8
Which amino acid becomes conditionally essential during severe thermal burn trauma or critical
illness recovery?
• A) Alanine
• B) Glutamine
• C) Valine
• D) Leucine
Correct Answer: B) Glutamine
Glutamine is a primary fuel source for enterocytes and immune cells. Endogenous production cannot meet
demand during severe metabolic stress, making it conditionally essential.



Question 9
What physiological process converts non-carbohydrate precursors, such as lactate, glycerol,
and glucogenic amino acids, into glucose during fasting?
• A) Glycogenolysis
• B) Glycolysis
• C) Gluconeogenesis
• D) Glycogenesis
Correct Answer: C) Gluconeogenesis
Gluconeogenesis occurs primarily in the liver and kidney cortex to maintain plasma glucose levels during
prolonged starvation or carbohydrate deprivation.



Question 10
Which hormone stimulates glycogen breakdown in the liver to restore blood glucose levels
during hypoglycemia?
• A) Insulin
• B) Glucagon
• C) Secretin
• D) Aldosterone
Correct Answer: B) Glucagon
Glucagon is secreted by pancreatic alpha cells in response to low blood glucose, activating glycogen
phosphorylase in hepatocytes to release glucose into circulation.



Question 11