Learning objectives
Ability to interpretate the effect of nutrients/foods/diets on human physiology and metabolism in health. Ability to evaluate the role of foods/diets in meeting nutrient needs. Ability to evaluate nutritional quality of foods.
The practical part of the course aims at developing the critical capacity to evaluate a food product label, focusing the attention on nutritional info and claims. The same capacity will be useful to revise and discuss a scientific paper on a nutritional topic. Finally, students will become familiar with the main instruments used to obtain information on food intake.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of human biochemistry.
Course unit content
The course is composed by seven parts: i) Physiology and Metabolism. Elements of Human physiology. ii) structure and functions of the gastrointestinal tract, of liver and pancreas; iii) digestion and absorption of macronutrients; iv) quality of macronutrients; v) vitamins and minerals; vi) water in human nutrition.
For the applicative credits:
1) Food label: evaluation of the list if ingredients, nutritional label and nutritional and/or health claims
2) Critical revision and oral discussion of a scientific paper on nutritional topics
3) Food intake evaluation: Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Food Diary
Full programme
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Bibliography
Jim Mann & Stewart Truswell: Essentials of Human Nutrition - Oxford University Press; Aldo Mariani Costantini, Carlo Cannella, Gianni Tomassi, Alimentazione e nutrizione umana. Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore.
Teaching methods
The course will be based on classical frontal lectures Teamwork for the applicative part.
Assessment methods and criteria
The learning will be evaluated through a written (multiple answer) examination held immediately at the end of the frontal lessons and with oral examinations/colloquium spread along the academic year. The evaluation will be based on the whole set of contents proposed during the course and and questions about all the topics will be asked in both written and oral examinations.
For the written exam the students will be exposed to 40 questions and the exam will be passed after at least 24 correct answers.
Other information
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