NNEK14015U Experimental Nutrition Physiology

Volume 2018/2019
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.
Literature

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

 

Course in nutrition physiology is recommended
The course includes on average one teaching module each week with introduction to the practical exercises. The introductions will be given in plenum, whereas the practical and theoretical exercises are performed in groups of 4-5 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. The students are to design and perform in groups their own experiment based on the learning outcomes. This part of the work will result in a scientifically written protocol and report(s), to be orally presented during a common conference. The students are expected to act as opponents for other groups, but the supervisors and the course responsible will do the final judgment of the report(s) and oral presentation.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 23
  • Preparation
  • 133
  • Theory exercises
  • 50
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Continuous assessment
Oral examination
Evaluation is based on the final report and the oral presentation session.
The oral presentation session is carried out in groups and consists of 1) a presentation of the report 2) examination by the censor, 3) questions from the opponent group, and 4) opponent task for one other group. Each student must participate actively in the presentation session in order to pass the course.
Presentation and examination is carried out in plenum.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner.
Re-exam

The student should hand-in the revised report two weeks before the re-examination. 


The re-examination will be oral and based on presentation of a report.

Durration: 10 minutes presentation followed by 15 minutes examination.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.