NASM NUTRITION CERTIFICATION 2026/2027
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Electron Transport Chain - ✔✔A chemical process where most of the ATP in the
body is produced - the basic principle behind the electron transport chain is that an
electron gradient produces ATP.
✔✔Krebs Cycle - ✔✔Also known as the Citric Acid cycle, a sequence of biochemical
reactions through which most living organisms produce energy using aerobic
metabolism (i.e., in the presence of oxygen).
✔✔Water-Soluble - ✔✔The ability to be dissolved in water - for example, salt, which is
sodium-chloride, dissolves in water and is considered water-soluble.
✔✔Vitamin B1 - ✔✔Commonly referred to as thiamine, is critical in the metabolism of
sugar and amino acids as well as central nervous system function.
✔✔Beriberi - ✔✔A condition of thiamine deficiency that affects either the cardiovascular
system, the nervous system, or both.
✔✔Wernicke Encephalopathy - ✔✔A disease of the brain that is the direct result of
thiamine deficiency - It causes confusion and makes people uncoordinated.
✔✔Riboflavin - ✔✔Also known as vitamin B2, critical in the metabolism of proteins,
carbohydrates, and fat.
✔✔Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) - ✔✔A key molecule in regulating oxidation-
reduction reactions, which are responsible for managing the oxidative balance in the
body.
✔✔Antioxidant System - ✔✔A series of chemical reactions in the body that help balance
out molecular damage due to increase levels of oxidative stress, also responsible for
maintaining enough oxidants for the body to function properly.
✔✔Redox System - ✔✔The process and reaction between two substances in which one
substance is oxidized and the other reduced.
✔✔Niacin - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B3, shares many similarities with
vitamin B2 in that it is critical in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.
✔✔Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) - ✔✔A molecule that carries hydrogen
ions and is used to make ATP, provides energy for our body.
,✔✔Pantothenic Acid - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B5, a component to co-
enzyme A (CoA) - CoA serves as a molecular link between glycolysis and the Kreb's
cycle.
✔✔Vitamin B6 - ✔✔Represents a class of several related, but different molecules, each
of which are important for optimal health.
✔✔Biotin - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B7.
✔✔Carboxylase Enzymes - ✔✔Responsible for adding a carboxyl group to molecules -
these carboxylation reactions are involved in almost every step in energy production.
✔✔Vitamin B12 - ✔✔The largest of the B-complex vitamins, comes in many forms, and
contains a heavy metal/mineral in its molecular structure, specifically cobalt.
✔✔Folate - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B9, helps regulate single-carbon
transfers, both accepting and donating single carbons to chemical reactions.
✔✔Vitamin C - ✔✔Referred to as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is one of the more robust
vitamins. It plays myriad roles in the human body.
✔✔Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - ✔✔The pain and stiffness that is felt
several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise - muscle soreness
typically sets in between 1 and 3 days post exercise.
✔✔Choline - ✔✔An essential nutrient, a source of methyl groups needed for many
steps in metabolism.
✔✔Ergogenic Aid - ✔✔Something that improves either physical or mental performance.
✔✔Fat-Soluble - ✔✔A compound or molecule that can be dissolved into fat.
✔✔Compound - ✔✔A thing that is composed of two or more separate elements.
✔✔Retinoids - ✔✔A class of chemical compounds that are vitamers of vitamin A.
✔✔Retinol - ✔✔Also known as Vitamin A, retinol helps in vision, bone growth,
reproduction, growth of epithelium, and fighting infections.
✔✔Retinal - ✔✔Also known as retinaldehyde, one of many forms of vitamin A.
✔✔Retinoic Acid - ✔✔A metabolite of vitamin A that mediates the functions of vitamin A
required for growth and development.
, ✔✔Vitamin D - ✔✔A fat-soluble vitamin present in very few foods - much of the vitamin
D found in our bodies comes from the conversion of cholesterol from direct exposure to
sunlight. This makes it unique among the fat-soluble vitamins in that dietary sources are
often not sufficient to maintain adequate levels. Sunlight and/or supplementation is
necessary.
✔✔Vitamin E - ✔✔A class of compounds - the most common ones are known as the
tocopherols and the tocotrienols, each of which have four types: alpha, beta, gamma,
and delta. Vitamin E is one of the main antioxidant molecules in the body and it protects
cells from oxidative damage.
✔✔Vitamin K - ✔✔A family of compounds that have a similar structure and function -
they are involved in regulating blood clotting as well as calcium metabolism.
✔✔Calcium - ✔✔A mineral that is required for life and helps the body build bones and
maintain their strength.
✔✔Osteoporosis - ✔✔A condition of weakened bones where bones lose their density -
calcium is a key piece of bone structure and calcium deficiency can lead to
osteoporosis.
✔✔Chromium - ✔✔An essential trace mineral that can improve insulin sensitivity and
enhance macronutrient metabolism.
✔✔Trace Element - ✔✔An element that is only required in minute amounts in the
human body.
✔✔Redox System - ✔✔The process and reaction between two substances in which one
substance is oxidized and the other reduced.
✔✔Nonessential Mineral - ✔✔Minerals that are not required for human function and/or
optimal health.
✔✔Goiter - ✔✔The swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland.
✔✔Hypothyroidism - ✔✔A condition in which your thyroid does not produce enough
thyroid hormones.
✔✔Myoglobin - ✔✔A protein that carries and stores oxygen in muscle cells.
✔✔Heme - ✔✔A form of dietary iron found only in animal meat.
✔✔Nonheme - ✔✔A form of dietary iron found in plant-based foods.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔Electron Transport Chain - ✔✔A chemical process where most of the ATP in the
body is produced - the basic principle behind the electron transport chain is that an
electron gradient produces ATP.
✔✔Krebs Cycle - ✔✔Also known as the Citric Acid cycle, a sequence of biochemical
reactions through which most living organisms produce energy using aerobic
metabolism (i.e., in the presence of oxygen).
✔✔Water-Soluble - ✔✔The ability to be dissolved in water - for example, salt, which is
sodium-chloride, dissolves in water and is considered water-soluble.
✔✔Vitamin B1 - ✔✔Commonly referred to as thiamine, is critical in the metabolism of
sugar and amino acids as well as central nervous system function.
✔✔Beriberi - ✔✔A condition of thiamine deficiency that affects either the cardiovascular
system, the nervous system, or both.
✔✔Wernicke Encephalopathy - ✔✔A disease of the brain that is the direct result of
thiamine deficiency - It causes confusion and makes people uncoordinated.
✔✔Riboflavin - ✔✔Also known as vitamin B2, critical in the metabolism of proteins,
carbohydrates, and fat.
✔✔Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide (FAD) - ✔✔A key molecule in regulating oxidation-
reduction reactions, which are responsible for managing the oxidative balance in the
body.
✔✔Antioxidant System - ✔✔A series of chemical reactions in the body that help balance
out molecular damage due to increase levels of oxidative stress, also responsible for
maintaining enough oxidants for the body to function properly.
✔✔Redox System - ✔✔The process and reaction between two substances in which one
substance is oxidized and the other reduced.
✔✔Niacin - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B3, shares many similarities with
vitamin B2 in that it is critical in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fat.
✔✔Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) - ✔✔A molecule that carries hydrogen
ions and is used to make ATP, provides energy for our body.
,✔✔Pantothenic Acid - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B5, a component to co-
enzyme A (CoA) - CoA serves as a molecular link between glycolysis and the Kreb's
cycle.
✔✔Vitamin B6 - ✔✔Represents a class of several related, but different molecules, each
of which are important for optimal health.
✔✔Biotin - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B7.
✔✔Carboxylase Enzymes - ✔✔Responsible for adding a carboxyl group to molecules -
these carboxylation reactions are involved in almost every step in energy production.
✔✔Vitamin B12 - ✔✔The largest of the B-complex vitamins, comes in many forms, and
contains a heavy metal/mineral in its molecular structure, specifically cobalt.
✔✔Folate - ✔✔Commonly used name for vitamin B9, helps regulate single-carbon
transfers, both accepting and donating single carbons to chemical reactions.
✔✔Vitamin C - ✔✔Referred to as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is one of the more robust
vitamins. It plays myriad roles in the human body.
✔✔Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - ✔✔The pain and stiffness that is felt
several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise - muscle soreness
typically sets in between 1 and 3 days post exercise.
✔✔Choline - ✔✔An essential nutrient, a source of methyl groups needed for many
steps in metabolism.
✔✔Ergogenic Aid - ✔✔Something that improves either physical or mental performance.
✔✔Fat-Soluble - ✔✔A compound or molecule that can be dissolved into fat.
✔✔Compound - ✔✔A thing that is composed of two or more separate elements.
✔✔Retinoids - ✔✔A class of chemical compounds that are vitamers of vitamin A.
✔✔Retinol - ✔✔Also known as Vitamin A, retinol helps in vision, bone growth,
reproduction, growth of epithelium, and fighting infections.
✔✔Retinal - ✔✔Also known as retinaldehyde, one of many forms of vitamin A.
✔✔Retinoic Acid - ✔✔A metabolite of vitamin A that mediates the functions of vitamin A
required for growth and development.
, ✔✔Vitamin D - ✔✔A fat-soluble vitamin present in very few foods - much of the vitamin
D found in our bodies comes from the conversion of cholesterol from direct exposure to
sunlight. This makes it unique among the fat-soluble vitamins in that dietary sources are
often not sufficient to maintain adequate levels. Sunlight and/or supplementation is
necessary.
✔✔Vitamin E - ✔✔A class of compounds - the most common ones are known as the
tocopherols and the tocotrienols, each of which have four types: alpha, beta, gamma,
and delta. Vitamin E is one of the main antioxidant molecules in the body and it protects
cells from oxidative damage.
✔✔Vitamin K - ✔✔A family of compounds that have a similar structure and function -
they are involved in regulating blood clotting as well as calcium metabolism.
✔✔Calcium - ✔✔A mineral that is required for life and helps the body build bones and
maintain their strength.
✔✔Osteoporosis - ✔✔A condition of weakened bones where bones lose their density -
calcium is a key piece of bone structure and calcium deficiency can lead to
osteoporosis.
✔✔Chromium - ✔✔An essential trace mineral that can improve insulin sensitivity and
enhance macronutrient metabolism.
✔✔Trace Element - ✔✔An element that is only required in minute amounts in the
human body.
✔✔Redox System - ✔✔The process and reaction between two substances in which one
substance is oxidized and the other reduced.
✔✔Nonessential Mineral - ✔✔Minerals that are not required for human function and/or
optimal health.
✔✔Goiter - ✔✔The swelling of the neck resulting from enlargement of the thyroid gland.
✔✔Hypothyroidism - ✔✔A condition in which your thyroid does not produce enough
thyroid hormones.
✔✔Myoglobin - ✔✔A protein that carries and stores oxygen in muscle cells.
✔✔Heme - ✔✔A form of dietary iron found only in animal meat.
✔✔Nonheme - ✔✔A form of dietary iron found in plant-based foods.
