Nutritional Biochemistry
A.Y. 2018/2019
Learning objectives
To provide cultural tools and advanced competences for the understanding the biochemical nature of foods and the metabolic processes by which nutrients are acquired and elaborated to assure animal organism homeostasis, with a particular focus on humans.
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Course syllabus
Nutritional needs and nutrients. Sources and bioavailability of nutrients. Energetic and plastic nutrients. Macronutrients and micronutrients. Non-nutrients and anti-nutrients.
Lipids. Chemical nature of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesterol and derivatives. Essential fatty acids. Alimentary fats and oils.
Glycans. Glycemic index of foods. Chemical nature of simple sugars and polysaccharides. Glycogen and starch. Organization of starch granules. Edible fiber: soluble and insoluble components. Sources of sugars, polysaccharides, and vegetal fiber.
Protids. Chemical nature of amino acids, polypeptides and proteins. Essential amino acids and protein nutritional quality. Meats and other animal sources of proteins. Gluten proteins and other vegetal protids.
Vitamins. Inorganic nutrients.
Chemical and physical consequences of cooking and other food transformation procedures. Biochemical aspects of nutrient assimilation: digestion, absorption and transport within the digestive apparatus. Molecular mechanisms of digestive enzyme activation and hydrolytic activity. Hormonal control of digestive function.
Metabolism and bioenergetics. Biochemical aspects of the energetic metabolism of nutrients. Metabolic specialization of organs and tissues. Metabolism of liver and extrahepatic tissues. Integration and hormonal regulation of metabolism. Energy stores. Glucose homeostasis. Metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogen compounds. Ethanol metabolism. Vitamin biochemistry. Antioxidants and oxidative stress. Enzymatic mechanisms of xenobiotic detoxification: cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and flavin-dependent monooxygenases (FMOs). Examples of food toxins.
Molecular bases of major metabolic diseases and food intolerances. Rational of dietary restrictions in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Molecular bases of biosegnalling. Receptors and signal transduction pathways. Hormone signal transduction pathways involved in metabolism regulation.
Reference Material: Textbook: Arienti G. "Le basi molecolari della nutrizione" fourth edition, Piccin, 2016.
Prerequisites and examination procedures: Good knowledge of basic general, inorganic and organic chemistry, of structural and general biochemistry, as well as of the main pathways of the intermediate metabolism. Written exam consisting in a set of open questions aimed to assess the ability of the student to handle all the topics covered by the course. Answers can be provided in English, if wished. Allowed time is usually 2 hours. At request, it is possible to sit the exam in oral form. Partial exams for students attending the course during the teaching semester are not planned.
Teaching Methods: Teaching format is traditional, consisting of interactive frontal classes supported by video projection. The course includes seminars on specific topics given by the teacher himself possibly in collaboration with invited experts.
Language of instruction: Italian.
Recommended Prerequisites: Knowledge of spoken Italian language in order to attend the lectures. Good knowledge of basic general and organic chemistry, of structural and general biochemistry, as well as of the main pathways of intermediate metabolism
Program information: Slides and other supporting material including exam samples are available through the Ariel web platform.
WEB pages: http://aalivertibn.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx
Lipids. Chemical nature of fatty acids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesterol and derivatives. Essential fatty acids. Alimentary fats and oils.
Glycans. Glycemic index of foods. Chemical nature of simple sugars and polysaccharides. Glycogen and starch. Organization of starch granules. Edible fiber: soluble and insoluble components. Sources of sugars, polysaccharides, and vegetal fiber.
Protids. Chemical nature of amino acids, polypeptides and proteins. Essential amino acids and protein nutritional quality. Meats and other animal sources of proteins. Gluten proteins and other vegetal protids.
Vitamins. Inorganic nutrients.
Chemical and physical consequences of cooking and other food transformation procedures. Biochemical aspects of nutrient assimilation: digestion, absorption and transport within the digestive apparatus. Molecular mechanisms of digestive enzyme activation and hydrolytic activity. Hormonal control of digestive function.
Metabolism and bioenergetics. Biochemical aspects of the energetic metabolism of nutrients. Metabolic specialization of organs and tissues. Metabolism of liver and extrahepatic tissues. Integration and hormonal regulation of metabolism. Energy stores. Glucose homeostasis. Metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, lipids and nitrogen compounds. Ethanol metabolism. Vitamin biochemistry. Antioxidants and oxidative stress. Enzymatic mechanisms of xenobiotic detoxification: cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and flavin-dependent monooxygenases (FMOs). Examples of food toxins.
Molecular bases of major metabolic diseases and food intolerances. Rational of dietary restrictions in the treatment of metabolic disorders.
Molecular bases of biosegnalling. Receptors and signal transduction pathways. Hormone signal transduction pathways involved in metabolism regulation.
Reference Material: Textbook: Arienti G. "Le basi molecolari della nutrizione" fourth edition, Piccin, 2016.
Prerequisites and examination procedures: Good knowledge of basic general, inorganic and organic chemistry, of structural and general biochemistry, as well as of the main pathways of the intermediate metabolism. Written exam consisting in a set of open questions aimed to assess the ability of the student to handle all the topics covered by the course. Answers can be provided in English, if wished. Allowed time is usually 2 hours. At request, it is possible to sit the exam in oral form. Partial exams for students attending the course during the teaching semester are not planned.
Teaching Methods: Teaching format is traditional, consisting of interactive frontal classes supported by video projection. The course includes seminars on specific topics given by the teacher himself possibly in collaboration with invited experts.
Language of instruction: Italian.
Recommended Prerequisites: Knowledge of spoken Italian language in order to attend the lectures. Good knowledge of basic general and organic chemistry, of structural and general biochemistry, as well as of the main pathways of intermediate metabolism
Program information: Slides and other supporting material including exam samples are available through the Ariel web platform.
WEB pages: http://aalivertibn.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v3/home/Default.aspx
BIO/04 - PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY
BIO/10 - BIOCHEMISTRY
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons (seminars): 8 hours
Lessons (seminars): 8 hours
Professor:
Aliverti Alessandro
Professor(s)
Reception:
To be agreed by email
Dept. Biosciences, via Celoria 26, bldg C - floor 5