NNEK14015U Experimental Nutrition Physiology

Volume 2015/2016
Education
MSc Programme in Human Nutrition
MSc Programme in Clinical Nutrition
Content

Introduction to and practical use of methods of measuring/assessing nutritional status including methods of measuring energy metabolism, body composition, biochemical parameters, and nutrient intake. Introduction to study design and dissemination including study planning, protocol writing, report writing, and oral data presentation. Introduction to statistical methods used in evaluating nutritional status.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • To understand the principles behind study design and different scientific methods used in nutritional research.
  • To understand the role of different factors that influence the validity of an experiment and the parameters that describes the quality of analyses.
  • To understand the principles behind the methods used in research to assess energy requirements and energy expenditure, and discuss their pros and cons.
  • To understand the principles behind the methods used in research to assess dietary food intake, and discuss their pros and cons.
  • To understand the principles behind the methods used in research for anthropometric measurements, and discuss their pros and cons.
  • To understand the role of biological and laboratory factors in assessment of micronutrient status and reflect on the use of appropriate biological materials, as well as discuss the pros and cons of different biomarkers as methods for evaluation of nutrient intake and status in a research set-up.
  • To understand the principles behind basic statistical methods used for data analyses.

 

Skills:

  • Be able to use, and critically evaluate, all the mentioned methods used for nutritional study design and status assessment.
  • Be able to perform basic statistical analyses and critically evaluate biological data.
  • Be able to design, perform, document and present own methodological study used for determination of energy and nutritional status.

 

Competences:

  • To evaluate and critically judge scientific results.
  • To work in a proactive manner to assure own learning outcome.
  • To work both independently and in a students’ group.

Course literature will be announced at study start on the course’s Absalon page.

 

LLEK10264 Nutrition Physiology. The course Nutrition Physiology should be passed or to be taken at the same time.
The course includes one teaching module each week with introduction to the practical exercises. In addition, there will be plenum lectures on the theoretical background of methods used to assess nutritional status. The lectures and introductions will be given in plenum, whereas the practical and theoretical exercises are performed in groups of 4-6 students. In the practical exercises, measurements are obtained by the students themselves and include anthropometric measurements and samples of blood and respiratory gasses from the students. From these exercises the students are expected to discuss the methods used and to write reports on their data. Moreover, the students are to design and perform in groups their own experiment based on the learning outcomes from the introductions and practical exercises. This part of the work will result in a scientifically written protocol and report, to be orally presented during a common conference. The students are expected to act as opponents for other groups, but the final judgment of the project and oral presentation quality will be done by the course responsible.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 38
  • Preparation
  • 122
  • Theory exercises
  • 46
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Evaluation is based on the participation in exercises and approval of protocols/reports from the exercises.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
one internal examiner
Re-exam
If the student did not fulfill the exam requirements regarding approval of written work, it is possible to do this before the re-exam. The student should hand-in the failed report(s) and pass it two weeks before the registration deadline for the re-examination. If participation in exercises falls below 80%, the student will have to take the course again.

The re-examination will be oral and based on presentation of a report.
Criteria for exam assesment

Please see "Learning Outcome"