Course BMED381

Biomedical Nutrition Physiology

Course offered :

Current semester
Next semester

Current programmes of study

Master's Programme in Medical Biology

Course offered by

Number of credits	5
Course offered (semester)	Spring
Schedule	Schedule
Reading list	Reading list

Introduction
Course description

Language of Instruction

English

Pre-requirements

Biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, nutrition physiologhy or equivalent on bachelor level, preferably completed with a degree.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of course the student should be able to:

give a biomedical overview of how physiological properties is affected by nutrients and nutrient composition.
discuss relationship between nutrition and physiological responses in relation to biomedical mechanisms
critical interpretation of relevant physiological, cell biological and molecular biological research literature in the field of nutrition and life style diseases.

Contact Information

Department of Biomedicine

studie@biomed.uib.no

(+47) 55 58 64 39 / 55 58 64 40 / 55 58 60 95

Course coordinator:

Livar Frøyland, http://uib.no/persons/Livar.Froyland

Course offered (semester)

Spring

Language of Instruction

English

Aim and Content

The physiology of cell and organism is determined by heredity and the environment. Human nutrition, represented by what we eat, represents an important route of environmental exposure, and the individual nutrients regulate different mechanisms at cellular and organism level. The physiological effects are in general a response to the total composition of different nutrients in our diet. In addition food is the main exposure rout to persistent environmental contaminants concentrated up the food chain.

In addition to traditional genetics, recent research has demonstrated that the environment can have an impact on gene regulation through several other mechanisms. Nutrients are therefore of importance for the development and progression of life style diseases like obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis. The progression of such a pathological condition can be observed through changes in cellular signaling and function, with impact on several physiological properties.

This course aims to give a research based introduction to biomedical subjects (biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, physiology) in connection with human nutritional physiology. With focus on areas like metabolism, signaling pathways and gene regulation will be used to explain basic mechanisms which involve and get affected by nutritiens and their composition in the diet.

The aim of the course is to train the student to independently evaluate effects of nutrients at a cell biological and physiological level evaluated in a broader scientific context in relation to health and disease.

The group work is an introduction in how to read up with and communicate relevant research literature in relation to a problem of issue defined by the course leader.

The practical work will give the students an introduction to the practical aspects of research as well as generating scientific reports. In this part of the course, a relevant and current issue/problem within nutrition - related to the disciplines of physiology, cell biology and/or molecular biology - will be examined in the laboratory of National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) and/or Department of Biomedicine. The analyzed results will form the basis for a simple research report. This report is to be constructed according to a standard template, featuring the following parts/sections: introduction, materials and methods, results and discussion.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of course the student should be able to:

give a biomedical overview of how physiological properties is affected by nutrients and nutrient composition.
discuss relationship between nutrition and physiological responses in relation to biomedical mechanisms
critical interpretation of relevant physiological, cell biological and molecular biological research literature in the field of nutrition and life style diseases.

Pre-requirements

Biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, nutrition physiologhy or equivalent on bachelor level, preferably completed with a degree.

Teaching Methods

Lectures (approx. 10 of 2 hrs) with focus on relevant topics within biomedical nutrition physiology.

Group work should be written based on research literature according to guidelines. The work will be presented for the other participants.

Practical work

A relevant research subject in the field of cell biology/physiology and nutrition will be announced with discussion of theoretical background, relevant model and setup.

Experiments/analysis will be demonstrated/performed at NIFES and Department of Biomedicine in laboratories with relevant methodological experience. Students take part in the practical work in the laboratory (duration one week).

After completion of the practical work a written report (according to instructions) including interpretation and discussion of the results and relevant research subjects should be handed in for approval.

Lectures will be held at NIFES and Department of Biomedicine.

Compulsory Requirements

Attendance at lectures, approved group work, related presentation and laboratory work and report.

Assessment methods

Homework examination

Grading Scale

Pass/Fail