6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit focuses on basic concepts in human nutrition. It will describe the role and function of macro and micronutrients essential for human health, their history of discovery, and relevance for the health of populations and individuals. The unit will include the clinical signs and symptoms of specific nutrient deficiency and excess, nutrient interactions and their significance, recommended dietary intakes and global epidemiology. It will cover methods used to assess food intake and data analysis by the use of food composition tables, patterns of restricted eating, diet myths and misconceptions and population specific nutritional issues.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Distinguish the role(s) of macro and micronutrients in the human body.
- Identify foods which are rich sources of particular nutrients, and which foods are important sources of particular nutrients in specific diets.
- Recognise the clinical signs and symptoms of particular nutrient deficiencies and excesses, and explain the reason for their development.
- Appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of assessing food intake and to critically assess the information derived from them.
- Appreciate the effects that nutrients may have on the absorption and utilization of other nutrients, and on medications.
Assessment
- Online Quiz (10%)
- Assignments (40%) (hurdle)
- Exam (2 hours) (50%) (hurdle)