ERN2300 – Micronutrients and foreign substances - from mechanisms to clinical practice
Course content
This module provides students with an introduction to the scientific basis for the Nordicnutrient recommendations regarding vitamins and minerals. By studying the molecularmechanisms involving vitamins and minerals, you will learn about how these nutrientsfunction in the body and how vitamins and minerals act as cofactors in enzymes, affect geneexpression and stimulate epigenetic processes. Food also contains foreign bodies that can beharmful to the body. During the course of this module, you will learn how to risk-evaluatethe intake of foreign bodies and how they affect the body. In addition, you will learn how toassess the intake of micronutrients in relation to the recommendations for healthyindividuals and to give relevant advice about food choices and the use of dietarysupplements. Further, you will learn how to give nutritional treatment adapted to patientswith vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
On completion of the course, you should be able to:
- describe the scientific basis for the Nordic nutrient recommendations (NNR) forvitamins and minerals.
- explain how the use of NNR can/should be adapted to individual patients and groups.
- explain the importance and use of the terms "?average requirement? (AR),?recommended intake? (RI), ?lower intake level? (LI) ?upper intake level? (UL)
- give an account of the main vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, their naturalsources and the recommended daily intake
- present the chemical structure of vitamins and other bioactive micronutrients
- explain how vitamins and minerals are part of the cell’s molecular mechanisms
- give an account of the absorption, interactions, turnover, regulation and function ofthe main vitamins and minerals
- give an account of the function of enzymes in metabolic reaction pathways and theimportance of vitamins and minerals as cofactors.
- give and account of the nuclear receptor superfamily and how nutrients, includingvitamins, can affect gene expression by acting as ligands for these transcriptionfactors
- explain how micronutrients can affect epigenetic changes in DNA methylation
- explain the importance of mutations and genetic variants of the genome and whatconsequences they can have as regards an individual’s need for vitamins andminerals
- present the possible advantages and disadvantages of enriching foods withmicronutrients
- describe different types of foreign bodies in food, how we are exposed to these andhow they affect the body
- describe and explain the terms "effective dose" (ED), "toxic dose" (TD) and "lethaldose" (LD) used in the classification of toxic bodies
- explain the possible mechanisms by which foreign bodies can influence thedevelopment of chronic diseases.
Skills
On completion of the course, you should be able to:
- assess the biochemical status of vitamins and minerals in individuals and groups
- assess the intake of vitamins and minerals in individuals and groups, based on theNNR recommendations
- communicate relevant advice on the choice of foods and the use of dietarysupplements to individuals and groups
- give nutritional treatment adapted to patients with vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of using dietary supplements atan individual and national level
- appraise scientific literature with a view to solving a clinical problem involvingmicronutrients.
General competencies
On completion of the course, you should be able to:
- use your knowledge and skills related to micronutrients and foreign bodies inpreventive health work, patient treatment and research
- reflect on the ethical problems linked to the enrichment of food and the use ofdietary supplements
- reflect on food as a source of both favourable and unfavourable substances.
Admission to the course
This course is reserved exclusively for students taking the five-year master`s degree in clinical nutrition.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
ERN1100 – Ern?ringsstudiet, Modul 1
The Faculty may require a programme student who has been absent from the programme for more than two consecutive years to repeat previously approved mandatory teaching and/or previously passed examinations before being allowed to resume his/her studies.
Teaching
The teaching consists of lectures, e-Learning and article/case seminars.
Examination
Three-hour inidividual written examination.
? Digital examinations at the Faculty of Medicine
Examination support material
No examination aids are permitted. Calculators will be handed out if needed.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
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- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.