BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE APPLICATA

1) Knowledge and understanding: The aim of the course is to provide students with the necessary elements to understand the biochemical mechanisms underlying the digestion, intake, distribution, and processing of nutrients in human metabolism and its regulation.

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The course aims to explore the biochemical processes involved in the health benefits of certain foods so that students can apply their acquired knowledge to develop and support arguments regarding the nutritional and health benefits of foods.

3) Independent judgment: The course aims to provide the ability to collect and interpret data deemed useful for making independent judgments on  biochemical processes involved in the health benefits of certain foods and the molecular mechanisms underlying nutrition and its applications in the prevention and treatment of diet-related diseases.

4) Communication skills: The teaching activities conducted through lectures will also be useful for stimulating discussion among students so that they can communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions to both specialists and non-specialists.

5) Learning skills: The course aims to develop in students the learning skills necessary for providing professional advice.

The course includes 42 hours of lectures delivered with the aid of PowerPoint presentations and online videos.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

• Foods in Human Nutrition

• Macronutrients and Micronutrients: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals

• Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Proteins and Their Metabolic Fate

• Nutritional Considerations on Lipid, Protein, and Carbohydrate Metabolism

• Energetic Function of Foods

• Fasting-Feeding Cycle

• Dietary Regimens: Dietary Transitions and Diseases of Abundance

• Balanced and Unbalanced Diets: Mediterranean Diet, High-Protein Diets, Ketogenic Diet, Vegetarian Diet, Vegan Diet, and Oriental Diets

• Nutrition and Health: Analysis of the Role of Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases such as Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer.

• Nutrition and Genetics: Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics

• Pharmacy Services: The pharmacist as a nutritional consultant for a) choosing healthy lifestyles suitable for maintaining good health, including the use of nutritional supplements, or

b) choosing lifestyles appropriate for specific clinical conditions

The course contributes to the goals of Agenda 2030.

According to the Teaching Regulations (RDA), Art. 12 – University Educational Credits (CFU): the standard workload of 25 hours of total student effort, corresponding to one credit, may comprise:

a) 7 hours dedicated to lectures or equivalent teaching activities, with the remainder devoted to independent study;

b) between 12 and 15 hours dedicated to classroom exercises or equivalent supervised activities (laboratories), with the remainder devoted to study and personal review.

1. G. Arienti.Le basi molecolari della nutrizione. Ed. PICCIN (REFERENCE TEXT)

2. U. Leuzzi, E. Bellocco, D. Barreca.Biochimica della nutrizione. Ed. ZANICHELLI (RECOMMENDED READING FOR FURTHER STUDY)

3. C. Pignatti- Biochimica della nutrizione- Società Editrice ESCULAPIO (REFERENCE TEXT)

The grading follows this scheme:

Not suitable

Significant deficiencies in knowledge and understanding of the topics. Inability to analyze and synthesize. Obvious flaws.

18-20

Minimal knowledge and understanding of the topics. Frequent generalizations. Barely sufficient analytical and synthesis skills.

21-23

Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics. Fair analytical and synthesis skills. Fair ability to present arguments logically and coherently.

24-26

Good knowledge and understanding of the topics. Good analytical and synthesis skills. Good ability to present arguments logically and coherently.

27-29

Very good knowledge and understanding of the topics. Notable analytical and synthesis skills. Topics explored in appropriate depth.

30-30L

Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topics. Notable analytical and synthesis skills. Topics explored in significant depth. Distinction (cum laude) is awarded to candidates who are clearly above average, demonstrating excellent analytical and synthesis skills and the ability to make interdisciplinary connections.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA, (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti) and referring teacher (prof.ssa Santina Chiechio email: santina.chiechio@unict.it) within of department.

Exam dates are published on the degree programme's website: https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/calendario-esami

1) Dietary plans: Mediterranean Diet

2) Nutrigenomics

3) Unbalanced diets

4) Dietary plans: Vegetarian diet

5) Nutritional advice for maintaining good health