BIOLOGY NOTES

Human Nutrition

CONTENTS:-
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Proteins
 Vitamins
 Mineral ions
 Dietary Fiber
 Water
 Carbohydrates
 Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
 Classified into 3 groups; monosaccharides, disaccharides and
polysaccharides
 Monosaccharides:- glucose, fructose
 Disaccharides:- sucrose, maltose
 Polysaccharides:- glycogen, starch, cellulose
 Carbohydrates are present in potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice,
bread, maize, cereals, peas, beans, fruits and vegetables, cassava,
sugary foods (cakes)
 Source of energy; 1g of carbohydrates gives 16kJ of energy;
needed for chemical activities
 If there is an Excess of intake of carbohydrates, it can be stored in
the form of glycogen in the liver and lipids in the fat deposits
(muscles, adipose tissue)
 Cellulose is useful for the formation of plant cell wall; also
important for humans; there is no enzyme to digest cellulose so it
moves from the mouth to the large intestine as such; it forms
dietary fiber or roughage which is helpful in keeping the digestive
system healthy; it retains water and is the bulk of faeces so it can
be passed out of the body smoothly; so lack of cellulose can cause
constipation or even lead to bowel cancer.
 The starch taken in is first digested to sugar (maltose); that sugar
is then either oxidized to release
energy, absorbed by the small
intestine, converted to glycogen
and stored in the liver or
converted to lipids and stored in
fat deposits
CC BY
 Lipids
 Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
 Oils and fats
 1 molecule of fat has 3 molecules of fatty acids and 1 molecule of
glycerol
 Lipids are present in butter, cheese, meat, egg-yolk, milk, nuts,
seeds (sunflower seeds have oil) and fruits (palm oil)
 Lipids are a source of energy; 1g of lipids gives 37kJ of energy
 Lipids are needed for the formation of cell membrane and nuclear
membrane
 They are oxidized in respiration, releasing CO2 and H2O
 Excessive lipid is stored in fat deposits; fat is stored in the adipose
tissue under the skin which helps to insulate the body
 Excessive intake of lipids can lead to obesity; it can block blood
vessels so food and oxygen is difficult to pass through; this further
leads to heart diseases, stroke, hypertension and diabetes
 Proteins
 Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sometimes sulfur and
phosphorus
 Amino acids eg. Glycine
 Proteins are found in lean meat, cheese, eggs, fish, soybeans,
pumpkin seeds, nuts, beans and peas, green vegies
 Source of energy; 1g of protein gives17kJ of energy
 Needed for the formation of new cells and tissues eg. Skin,
muscle, bones and blood
 Formation of protoplasm and enzymes
 Formation of antibodies, hormones and red blood cells
 Excessive protein then CH2COOH is converted to glycogen and
stored in the liver; deamination of the amino group (-NH2) in the
liver which then forms urea and is excreted out of the body with
the help of the kidneys
 Vitamins
Vitamin C
 Also known as ascorbic acid and is fat soluble
 Found in all citrus fruits like lemon, lime, oranges, guava,
mangoes, tomatoes, green vegetables
 Needed for the formation of collagen fiber in the connective
tissues in the skin, giving it a tensile effect
 Deficiency causes unproper healing of roots, bleeding under the
skin part of the joints, the gums become swollen and bleed easily,
all symptoms of scurvy

 Diet should involve fresh food which has to be taken daily as

vitamin C cannot be stored in the body
Vitamin D
 Also known as calciferol and is water soluble
 Found in meat, butter, milk, cheese, egg-yolk, fish, fish-liver oil
 Also obtained from sunlight naturally
 Absorbs calcium so helps in strengthening bones
 Lack of vitamin D in children can cause rickets in which the bones
of the legs deform due to the weight of the body above

 In adults, deficiency can cause osteoporosis where the bones get

fractured easily
 Mineral Ions
Iron
