AGRI002281 Nutrition physiology

Type
Lecture
Semester hours
2
Lecturer (assistant)
Schwarz, Christiane
Organisation
Animal Nutrition, Livestock Products and Nutrition Physiology
Offered in
Sommersemester 2026
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

The lecture ‘Nutrition Physiology’ comprehensively covers the physiological basics of nutrition. It covers the essential aspects of nutrient intake, processing and utilisation in the body. The contents include:
The content includes:
Composition of food: macro- and micronutrients; carbohydrates including fibre, fatty acids and fats, amino acids and protein, essential vs. non-essential nutrients
Biology and physiology of the human digestive system
Enzymatic and microbial digestion processes of nutrients
Absorption of nutrients
Metabolism of nutrients (oxidation and synthesis):
- From glucose to ATP; conversion and synthesis of carbohydrates
- Metabolism of fatty acids, fats and cholesterol
- Breakdown and synthesis of amino acids and their importance in metabolism
Minerals and vitamins: essential functions, metabolism and homeostasis, determining requirements, bioavailability, deficiency diseases
Radical metabolism (oxidative stress): significance of redox reactions and antioxidant mechanisms
Coordination of metabolism at the level of the entire organism (control points and nodes, hormonal regulation)
Previous knowledge expected

Basic knowledge of the chemical properties of nutrients and biochemistry
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

After successfully completing the course, students will have deepened their knowledge of the chemical and physiological significance of nutrients, their digestion (enzymatic/microbial fermentation) and absorption in the human body. They will be able to explain this knowledge in detail.
Students will be able to independently predict the flow of macronutrients (monosaccharides, fatty acids, amino acids) through the organism and assess the metabolic control of oxidation and synthesis or conversion of substances. In addition, they can assess how the organism can adapt to different physiological states and diets (e.g. low-carb diets). Participants can interpret the effects of different diets on lipoprotein fractions and explain their significance for cardiovascular health. In addition, students have detailed knowledge of the links between individual metabolic pathways and their coordination between different tissues (especially the liver, muscles, adipose tissue and brain).
Students recognise the concept of homeostasis in mineral metabolism and can systematically identify the key aspects of mineral requirements and bioavailability. They are able to describe selected functions of vitamins and identify their essential role as cofactors in nutrient metabolism. In the field of radical metabolism, they know the exogenous and endogenous causes of radical formation and can distinguish between enzymatic and non-enzymatic defence mechanisms for preventing oxidative stress.
The lecture aims to provide a deep understanding of the physiological basis of nutrition. After completing the course, students will be able to methodically justify the suitability and effectiveness of selected biomolecules as dietary supplements. In addition, they will be able to reflect on and discuss interdisciplinary relationships between nutrition, metabolic physiology and health prevention.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.