NUTRITION PRACTICE TEST

QUESTIONS
1. Fruits, vegetables and cereals are potent sources of:
1. Antioxidants
2. Unsaturated fat
3. Saturated fat
4. Free radicals
2. The leading source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet is:
1. Citrus fruits
2. Spinach
3. Coffee
4. Egg yolks
3. The essential fatty acids that must be derived from the diet are:
1. Stearidonic acid and eicosatetraenoic acid
2. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid
3. Linoleic and alpha-linoleic acid
4. Gamma-linoleic acid and arachidonic acid
4. All of the following statements about omega-3 fatty acids are true
except:
1. They help to maintain healthy triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein
2. They have significantly contributed to the obesity epidemic
3. They are necessary for healthy infant growth and development
4. They play an important role in the production of hormones that govern numerous
metabolic and biological processes
5. All of the following may be associated with scurvy except:
1. Loss of appetite and irritability
2. Diarrhea and fever
3. Tenderness and swelling in legs
4. First symptom is altered mental status
6. The only fat-soluble antioxidant synthesized in the body is?
1. Vitamin D
2. Thiamine
3. Ascorbic acid
4. CoQ10
7. Good source of vitamin D include all except:
1. blueberries
2. Sunlight
3. Salmon, tuna sardines and mackerel
4. Fortified milk and other dairy products
8. One of the fat-soluble vitamins involved in coagulation is:
1. Vitamin K
2. Vitamin A
3. Vitamin D
4. Vitamin E
9. Products that contain live microorganisms in sufficient numbers to
alter intestinal microflora and promote intestinal microbial balance are
known as:
1. Antibiotics
2. Probiotics
3. Fruits and vegetables
4. Digestive enzymes
10. Nondigestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and activity
of certain bacteria in the colon are called:
1. Insoluble fiber
2. Probiotics
3. Prebiotics
4. Cellulose
11. A deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) in the diet causes:
1. Osteopenia
2. Beri-beri
3. Protein malnutrition
4. Scurvy
12. Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia may include all of the following
except:
1. Extreme, intermittent facial pain in the jaw or cheek
2. Tingling or numbness on one side of the face
3. Pain triggered by contact with the face or facial movements
4. Inability to swallow
13. All of the following are true about Tourette syndrome except:
1. Drug treatment completely eliminates symptoms
2. It is involuntary and may be a chronic condition
3. Symptoms are generally most severe during adolescence
4. Symptoms are generally detected in children
14. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise:
1. Limiting carbohydrates to 10 percent of daily calories
2. Limiting total fat intake to 20 to 35 percent of calories
3. Limiting protein to 10 percent of daily calories
4. Limiting intake of fats and oils to 10 percent of daily calories
15. All of the following statements about vitamin B3 (niacin) are true
except:
1. It helps to release energy in carbohydrates, fat, and protein
2. It improves blood lipid levels
3. Deficiency causes beriberi
4. It is involved in the synthesis of sex hormones
16. The average American consumes approximately how much sodium
per day?
1. 2,300 mg
2. 230 mg
3. 340 mg
4. 3,400 mg
17. All of the following are potentially modifiable risk factors for
osteoporosis except:
1. Anorexia nervosa
2. Chronically low intake of calcium and vitamin D
3. Chronically low intake of vitamins C and B6
4. Excessive alcohol consumption
18. Consuming fewer than 130 grams of carbohydrate per day may lead
to:
1. Hypoglycemia
2. Kwashiorkor
3. Marasmus
4. Ketosis
19. Characteristics of successful dieters include all of the following
except:
1. Maintaining a daily food journal
2. Counting calories
3. Adhering to a strict eating plan
4. Eliminating all carbohydrates from their diets
20. Iron supplements are frequently recommended for all of the
following except:
1. Women who are pregnant
2. Infants and toddlers
3. Teenage girls
4. Post-menopausal women

Answers and Explanations

1. A
In addition to the above-mentioned foods, legumes (including broad beans, pinto beans,
and soybeans) are good sources of antioxidant vitamins and a variety of phytonutrients
that often act as antioxidants, protecting the cells of the body from the damaging effect
of free radicals. Some of the best sources of antioxidants are berries, ginger,
pomegranate, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.
2. C
Because most Americans do not consume the recommended number of servings of
fruits and vegetables each day, coffee is the leading source of antioxidants in
Americans’ diets. It is not because coffee is especially high in antioxidants, but because
Americans drink so much of it. Their morning coffee gives Americans nearly 1,300 mg
daily of antioxidants in the form of polyphenols.
3. C
Although essential fatty acids are required for human metabolism, the body does not
produce linoleic acid (LA or ?-6 or omega-6) and alpha-linoleic acid (LNA or ?-3 or
omega-3), and they must be derived from the diet. Also known as polyunsaturated fatty
acids (PUFAs), omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play vital roles in brain function as
well as normal growth and development.
4. B
In addition to the above-mentioned facts, omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for the
structure of cell membranes, especially in the brain and retina. The cardioprotective
effects of omega-3 fatty acids relate to improvements in blood pressure, cardiac
function, and arterial and vascular function as well as improved lipid metabolism,
antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory effects.
5. D
Scurvy is caused by insufficient consumption of vitamin C. Although it is rare, older
adults, persons who abuse alcohol, and those who eat a diet that does not contain fresh
fruit and vegetables may be at risk of developing scurvy. Along with the above-
mentioned symptoms, persons with scurvy may suffer bleeding gums, petechial
hemorrhage of the skin and mucous membranes, bleeding in the eye, hyperkeratosis,
and sicca syndrome.
6. D
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble quinone, a vitamin-like compound that is vital
for activities related to energy metabolism. CoQ10 is the coenzyme for at least three
mitochondrial enzymes as well as enzymes in other parts of the cell and is involved in
the key biochemical reactions that produce energy in cells. It also is a free radical
scavenger and is metabolized to ubiquinol, which prolongs the antioxidant effect of
vitamin E. The highest amounts of it are found in the mitochondria of cells of organs
with high-energy requirements such as the heart muscle, liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
7. A
Humans obtain vitamin D from two natural sources: sunlight and consumed food. Solar
UVB radiation penetrates the skin and converts 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3,
which is rapidly converted to vitamin D3. Along with the above-mentioned foods, cod
liver oil is a potent source of vitamin D and some orange juice, soy, and rice beverages
are fortified with vitamin D.
8. A
Vitamin K1 is a cofactor needed for the synthesis of some of the substances that help
blood to clot. In adults, low dietary intake of vitamin K may be the result of chronic
illness, malnutrition, alcoholism, multiple abdominal surgeries, long-term parenteral
nutrition, malabsorption, gallbladder disease, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, inflammatory
bowel disease, and long-term use of drugs such as antibiotics and cholestyramine,
which binds to bile acids, preventing fat-soluble vitamin absorption.
9. B
Probiotics protect against harmful bacteria in the following ways: by penetrating and
binding to the surfaces of harmful organisms; by stimulating the lining of the digestive
tract to prevent penetration by pathogens; and by modifying immunoregulation.
Probiotics have been shown to relieve temporary abdominal bloating and to reduce
intestinal gas.
10. C
Prebiotics are primarily oligosaccharides-short chains of sugar molecules that can only
partially be digested. Most naturally occurring oligosaccharides are found in plants.
Prebiotics are often called bifidogenic factors because they primarily stimulate growth of
bifidobacteria. Prebiotics work in concert with probiotics and have been found to
produce many of the same health benefits.
11. B
Beri-beri is rarely seen in the United States because many foods are fortified with
thiamine. Persons at risk of developing beri-beri include those who abuse alcohol,
persons on dialysis, and those taking high doses of diuretics as well as infants breastfed
by mothers who lack sufficient thiamine.
12. D
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by sudden onset of severe pain that lasts less
than a minute. It presents most commonly in persons age 50 and older and among
women. The frequency and severity of attacks recurs and remits, progressively
worsening over time. While the disorder may be debilitating, it is not life threatening.
13. A
Tourette Syndrome is characterized by tics – repetitive, involuntary behaviors,
vocalizations and movements such as eye blinking, grimacing and shrugging, or jerky
muscle movements. Tics also may include self-harm such as repetitively punching
oneself as well as coprolalia and echolalia. Persons with Tourette syndrome frequently
suffer behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention disorders, and
repetitive behaviors.
14. B
The USDA Dietary Guidelines suggest that most dietary fats should be obtained from
sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, and
vegetable oils. The Guidelines also advise limiting intake of fats and oils high in
saturated and/or trans fatty acids.
15. C
In addition to the above-mentioned actions, vitamin B3, also known as niacin or nicotinic
acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell respiration and supports the
circulation, skin, nervous system, and secretion of bile. Insufficient niacin intake is
associated with symptoms such as canker sores, depression, fatigue, indigestion,
weakness, skin problems, and inflammation. Chronic niacin deficiency is called pellagra.
16. D
The average American consumes about 50% more sodium than the 2,300 mg per day
recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Excessive sodium consumption
is associated with increased risk for hypertension, which is associated with increased
risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
17. C
Long-term inadequate intake of calcium is associated with low bone mass, rapid bone
loss, and high risk of fracture. In addition to the above-mentioned risk factors, chronic
use of glucocorticoids, some anticonvulsants, inactivity, smoking, and changes in sex
hormones such as amenorrhea, menopause, and low testosterone may increase the
risk for osteoporosis.
18. D
Low carbohydrate diets promote ketosis, the process of breaking down fat as opposed
to carbohydrate to generate energy. Ketones are acidic chemicals, which can build up in
the blood and urine. Diet-induced ketosis may be intentional as a treatment for some
people with epilepsy, however, for some people, long-term adherence to a very low
carbohydrate diet may produce damage to the liver and kidneys.
19. D
Along with the above-mentioned characteristics, successful dieters monitor their weight,
practice portion control, increase physical activity, and aim for healthy realistic weight
loss ranging from 10% to 20% of initial bodyweight in a year. Successful dieters
maintain their motivation by celebrating the achievement of weight-loss milestones
20. D
In addition to the above-mentioned populations, supplemental iron may be given to treat
anemia that occurs during pregnancy or as a result of heavy menstrual periods, kidney
disease, or chemotherapy. Supplemental iron also may be recommended for
vegetarians and women who are lactating. Iron requirements decrease for post-
menopausal women.