• MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
MCAT EXAM STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT | GRADE A
1. A patient in the critical care unit is experiencing stress and malnutrition and requires a significant amount of
glucose to be released into the bloodstream. Which organ would the nurse expect to provide this glucose?
Lungs
Intestines
Pancreas
Liver
Liver
2. In which way are proteins responsible for preservation of immune function within the body?
Development of antibodies
Production of albumin
Regulation of blood neutrality
P 1
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Transportation of albumin
Development of antibodies
3. Which change would the nurse expect to see in the body during a period of metabolic stress?
Decreased production of glucose
Increased production of insulin
Breakdown of fatty acids
Excretion of triglycerides
Breakdown of fatty acids
4. Which patient is at the highest risk for malnutrition?
Food insecurity, takes five medications for cystic fibrosis
History of hypertension requiring a low-salt diet
Admitted to critical care 3 days ago after a motor vehicle accident
History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
Food insecurity, takes five medications for cystic fibrosis
5. Which assessment findings would the nurse expect to find in a patient with a Vitamin A deficiency? Select all
that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Conjunctival dryness
Petechiae
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Confabulation
Dry, scaly skin
Conjunctival dryness
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Dry, scaly skin
6. The dietician would like to determine a patient’s nutritional requirements. Which method would
be most accurate?
Harris-Benedict formula
Ireton-Jones calculation
Indirect calorimetry
Frankenfield equation
P 2
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Indirect calorimetry
Indirect calorimetry is the most accurate method for determining caloric needs. Formulas only provide
estimates.
7. Which intervention best prevents nutrition-related septic complications in critically ill patients?
Early enteral nutritional
Malnutrition assessment
Indirect calorimetry
Volume resuscitation
Early enteral nutritional
8. Which hormone is released during a hypermetabolic state? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses
may be correct.
Epinephrine
Glucagon
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Epinephrine
Glucagon
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Cortisol
Aldosterone
9. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect to find in a patient with severe malnutrition in the context
of chronic illness? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Energy intake < 75% of requirement for > 1 month
Mild body fat loss
Moderate fluid accumulation
6% weight loss over 3 months
Measurably reduced grip strength
Energy intake < 75% of requirement for > 1 month
Measurably reduced grip strength
10. When evaluating a patient for response to nutrition support, the nurse will exclude which type of
assessment?
P 3
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Patient dietary preferences
Anthropometric measurements
Biochemical evaluation
Physical examination
Patient dietary preferences
11. Which laboratory value will assist the nurse with evaluating a patient’s adequacy of renal function to handle
nutrition support? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Blood urea nitrogen
Serum levels of electrolyte
Blood glucose
Creatinine
Serum triglyceride concentration
Blood urea nitrogen
Creatinine
12. Which practical challenge is associated with developing an evidence base for clinical nutrition practice?
Simplicity of variables on meaningful nutrition outcomes
Overabundance of high-quality evidence to support recommendations
Similarities that naturally occur in the patient population
Ability to providing well-controlled nutrition interventions in research trials
Ability to providing well-controlled nutrition interventions in research trials
1. Which clinical manifestation indicates that dumping syndrome is occurring? Select all that apply. One, some, or
all responses may be correct.
Constipation
Tachycardia
Weakness
Abdominal cramping
Altered mental status
Tachycardia
Weakness
Abdominal cramping
P 4
MCAT EXAM STUDY GUIDE HIGH-YIELD
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT | GRADE A
1. A patient in the critical care unit is experiencing stress and malnutrition and requires a significant amount of
glucose to be released into the bloodstream. Which organ would the nurse expect to provide this glucose?
Lungs
Intestines
Pancreas
Liver
Liver
2. In which way are proteins responsible for preservation of immune function within the body?
Development of antibodies
Production of albumin
Regulation of blood neutrality
P 1
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Transportation of albumin
Development of antibodies
3. Which change would the nurse expect to see in the body during a period of metabolic stress?
Decreased production of glucose
Increased production of insulin
Breakdown of fatty acids
Excretion of triglycerides
Breakdown of fatty acids
4. Which patient is at the highest risk for malnutrition?
Food insecurity, takes five medications for cystic fibrosis
History of hypertension requiring a low-salt diet
Admitted to critical care 3 days ago after a motor vehicle accident
History of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder
Food insecurity, takes five medications for cystic fibrosis
5. Which assessment findings would the nurse expect to find in a patient with a Vitamin A deficiency? Select all
that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Conjunctival dryness
Petechiae
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Confabulation
Dry, scaly skin
Conjunctival dryness
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Dry, scaly skin
6. The dietician would like to determine a patient’s nutritional requirements. Which method would
be most accurate?
Harris-Benedict formula
Ireton-Jones calculation
Indirect calorimetry
Frankenfield equation
P 2
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Indirect calorimetry
Indirect calorimetry is the most accurate method for determining caloric needs. Formulas only provide
estimates.
7. Which intervention best prevents nutrition-related septic complications in critically ill patients?
Early enteral nutritional
Malnutrition assessment
Indirect calorimetry
Volume resuscitation
Early enteral nutritional
8. Which hormone is released during a hypermetabolic state? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses
may be correct.
Epinephrine
Glucagon
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Epinephrine
Glucagon
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Cortisol
Aldosterone
9. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect to find in a patient with severe malnutrition in the context
of chronic illness? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Energy intake < 75% of requirement for > 1 month
Mild body fat loss
Moderate fluid accumulation
6% weight loss over 3 months
Measurably reduced grip strength
Energy intake < 75% of requirement for > 1 month
Measurably reduced grip strength
10. When evaluating a patient for response to nutrition support, the nurse will exclude which type of
assessment?
P 3
, • MCAT EXAM 09/09/2026
Patient dietary preferences
Anthropometric measurements
Biochemical evaluation
Physical examination
Patient dietary preferences
11. Which laboratory value will assist the nurse with evaluating a patient’s adequacy of renal function to handle
nutrition support? Select all that apply. One, some, or all responses may be correct.
Blood urea nitrogen
Serum levels of electrolyte
Blood glucose
Creatinine
Serum triglyceride concentration
Blood urea nitrogen
Creatinine
12. Which practical challenge is associated with developing an evidence base for clinical nutrition practice?
Simplicity of variables on meaningful nutrition outcomes
Overabundance of high-quality evidence to support recommendations
Similarities that naturally occur in the patient population
Ability to providing well-controlled nutrition interventions in research trials
Ability to providing well-controlled nutrition interventions in research trials
1. Which clinical manifestation indicates that dumping syndrome is occurring? Select all that apply. One, some, or
all responses may be correct.
Constipation
Tachycardia
Weakness
Abdominal cramping
Altered mental status
Tachycardia
Weakness
Abdominal cramping
P 4
