ASPEN Essential Test Toolkit Exam Questions
and Approved with Distinction Marking
Scheme Latest 2024/2025
Mucosal atrophy that accompanies bowel rest may result from an absence of
a. short chain fatty acids
b. glutamine
c. glucose
d. L-cysteine - correct answer b. glutamine
Insoluble dietary fiber may help to regulate normal defecation by
a. increasing stool weight and bulk
b. inhibiting the growth of colonic bacteria
c. reducing incidence of constipation
d. removing water from the colon - correct answer a. increasing stool weight and bulk
Which of the following medications has NOT been shown to lead to diarrhea in a patient
receiving enteral nutrition?
a. sorbitol-containing preparations
b. Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists
c. antibiotics
d. magnesium-containing preparations - correct answer b. Alpha-2 adrenergic
preparations
Which protein transports oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body?
a. albumin
b. hemoglobin
c. lipoprotein
d. retinol-binding protein - correct answer b. hemoglobin
,Which of the following best describes a lipid injectable emulsion (ILE) produced by the
transesterification of fatty acids to form a composite triglyceride molecule?
a. single oil
b. multi-oil
c. structured
d. physical mixture - correct answer c. structured
Which of the following is a clinical characteristic of acute disease or injury related
severe malnutrition?
a. moderate depletion of fat
b. mild fluid accumulation
c. mild depletion of muscle mass
d. 10% weight loss in 6 months - correct answer a. moderate depletion of fat
The initial daily protein requirements for a critically ill trauma patient weighting 70 kg and
having a BMI of 23.4 are
a. 55-70 grams
b. 70-105 grams
c. 105-140 grams
d. 140-175 grams - correct answer c. 105-140 grams
Which of the following is the MOST practical approach for managing micronutrients in
long-term parenteral nutrition patients?
a. obtain serum values for all vitamins and trace elements yearly
b. perform a micronutrient assessment every 6 months
c. provide micronutrients only when laboratory values indicate abnormal levels
d. a nutrition focused physical assessment should be performed annually to determine
micronutrient deficiencies - correct answer b. perform a micronutrient assessment
every 6 months
, Which of the following are examples of conditionally essential amino acids?
a. leucine and isoleucine
b. phenylalanine and valine
c. glutamine and arginine
d. histidine and glutamine - correct answer c. glutamine and arginine
Which of the following is an example of a short chain fatty acid?
a. lauric acid
b. stearic acid
c. oleic acid
d. butyric acid - correct answer d. butyric acid
A long-term PN patient presents with involuntary movements, tremor, and rigidity.
Which of the following etiologies may explain these symptoms?
a. manganese deficiency
b. manganese toxicity
c. selenium deficiency
d. selenium toxicity - correct answer b. manganese toxicity
What vitamin absorption is most likely to be impaired with chronic use of proton pump
inhibitor therapy?
a. vitamin B3
b. vitamin B1
c. vitamin B6
d. vitamin B12 - correct answer d. vitamin B12
Following initial certification of parenteral nutrition by Medicare, after what length of time
is recertification required?
and Approved with Distinction Marking
Scheme Latest 2024/2025
Mucosal atrophy that accompanies bowel rest may result from an absence of
a. short chain fatty acids
b. glutamine
c. glucose
d. L-cysteine - correct answer b. glutamine
Insoluble dietary fiber may help to regulate normal defecation by
a. increasing stool weight and bulk
b. inhibiting the growth of colonic bacteria
c. reducing incidence of constipation
d. removing water from the colon - correct answer a. increasing stool weight and bulk
Which of the following medications has NOT been shown to lead to diarrhea in a patient
receiving enteral nutrition?
a. sorbitol-containing preparations
b. Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists
c. antibiotics
d. magnesium-containing preparations - correct answer b. Alpha-2 adrenergic
preparations
Which protein transports oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body?
a. albumin
b. hemoglobin
c. lipoprotein
d. retinol-binding protein - correct answer b. hemoglobin
,Which of the following best describes a lipid injectable emulsion (ILE) produced by the
transesterification of fatty acids to form a composite triglyceride molecule?
a. single oil
b. multi-oil
c. structured
d. physical mixture - correct answer c. structured
Which of the following is a clinical characteristic of acute disease or injury related
severe malnutrition?
a. moderate depletion of fat
b. mild fluid accumulation
c. mild depletion of muscle mass
d. 10% weight loss in 6 months - correct answer a. moderate depletion of fat
The initial daily protein requirements for a critically ill trauma patient weighting 70 kg and
having a BMI of 23.4 are
a. 55-70 grams
b. 70-105 grams
c. 105-140 grams
d. 140-175 grams - correct answer c. 105-140 grams
Which of the following is the MOST practical approach for managing micronutrients in
long-term parenteral nutrition patients?
a. obtain serum values for all vitamins and trace elements yearly
b. perform a micronutrient assessment every 6 months
c. provide micronutrients only when laboratory values indicate abnormal levels
d. a nutrition focused physical assessment should be performed annually to determine
micronutrient deficiencies - correct answer b. perform a micronutrient assessment
every 6 months
, Which of the following are examples of conditionally essential amino acids?
a. leucine and isoleucine
b. phenylalanine and valine
c. glutamine and arginine
d. histidine and glutamine - correct answer c. glutamine and arginine
Which of the following is an example of a short chain fatty acid?
a. lauric acid
b. stearic acid
c. oleic acid
d. butyric acid - correct answer d. butyric acid
A long-term PN patient presents with involuntary movements, tremor, and rigidity.
Which of the following etiologies may explain these symptoms?
a. manganese deficiency
b. manganese toxicity
c. selenium deficiency
d. selenium toxicity - correct answer b. manganese toxicity
What vitamin absorption is most likely to be impaired with chronic use of proton pump
inhibitor therapy?
a. vitamin B3
b. vitamin B1
c. vitamin B6
d. vitamin B12 - correct answer d. vitamin B12
Following initial certification of parenteral nutrition by Medicare, after what length of time
is recertification required?
