Contents
Energy and nutrients...................................................................................3
1.0 Energy metabolism in the body..........................................................3
1.1 Energy balance...................................................................................3
2.0 Energy consumption...........................................................................4
2.1 Basal metabolism...............................................................................5
2.2 The thermogenic effect of the diet.....................................................6
2.3 Physical activity..................................................................................6
3.0 Calculation of energy consumption....................................................8
4.0 Energy intake...................................................................................10
4.1 Macronutrients.................................................................................10
4.2 Carbohydrate...................................................................................10
4.3 Simple carbohydrates (mono- and disaccharides)...........................11
4.4 Polyols/sugar alcohols......................................................................12
4.5 Oligosaccharides..............................................................................12
4.6 Polysaccharides................................................................................13
4.7 Dietary fiber.....................................................................................13
4.8 Whole grains....................................................................................14
4.8 Digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates....................................15
4.9 Glycemic index.................................................................................16
4.9.1 Carbohydrates in the Danish diet..................................................17
5.0 Protein..............................................................................................17
5.1 Amino acids......................................................................................19
5.2 Classification of amino acids............................................................19
5.3 Protein quality..................................................................................19
5.4 Protein turnover...............................................................................20
5.5 Protein requirements........................................................................21
5.6 Insufficient supply of energy and/or protein.....................................22
6.0 Fat....................................................................................................22
6.1 Triglycerides and fatty acids.............................................................23
6.2 Phospholipids...................................................................................25
6.3 Steroids............................................................................................25
Page 1of 36
,6.4 Digestion and metabolism of fat......................................................26
6.5 Alcohol..............................................................................................29
7.0 Micronutrients..................................................................................29
7.1 Vitamins...........................................................................................29
7.2 Minerals and trace elements............................................................31
8.0 Food groups......................................................................................32
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, Energy and nutrients
1.0 Energy metabolism in the body
Energy turnover = metabolism. It consists of 2 processes that are
constantly taking place in the body:
1. Catabolic, the degradative.
2. Anabolic, the building up.
The processes are catalyzed by enzymes, which means that the enzymes
make the processes proceed faster. The body will try to achieve
equilibrium between the two processes and thus achieve energy balance.
The body is said to be in energy balance when energy expenditure equals
energy intake.
Energy consumption can be measured in the following units:
1 kcal = 4.184 kJ (4.2 kJ)
1 kJ = 0.239 kcal (0.24 kcal)
1 MJ = 1000 kJ
The diet contains energy stored in the macronutrients carbohydrate, fat,
protein and alcohol. This energy is transferred to the body when the
macronutrients are digested and absorbed. The energy is stored in the
body as energy-rich compounds, such as ATP, and is used for energy-
demanding processes such as muscle work, building new tissue and heat.
1.1 Energy balance
The energy requirement of healthy adults corresponds to the energy
intake necessary to maintain weight and cover the energy expenditure for
physical activity. In children, the energy intake must also cover the
energy requirement for normal growth and development.
Over a shorter period of one to four days, energy intake and energy
expenditure do not need to be identical, but if there is an imbalance over
a longer period, it will be expressed in the form of changes in weight. This
change in weight can be due to the build-up of tissue or the breakdown of
tissue. The body stores excess energy as fat, and this will contribute to
weight gain. However, an increased energy intake in relation to energy
Page 3of 36
, expenditure can also result in increased muscle mass, but this requires
that the muscle mass is also loaded, for example by strength training.
It takes more energy to build tissue than is released when tissue is broken
down. Breaking down 1 kg of body tissue corresponds to a deficit of about
20 MJ, while 1 kg of built body tissue corresponds to a surplus of about 30
MJ.
2.0 Energy consumption
The components that have an overall impact on the body's energy
consumption are basal metabolic rate, the heat-producing, thermogenic
effect of the diet, and physical activity.
Page 4of 36
Energy and nutrients...................................................................................3
1.0 Energy metabolism in the body..........................................................3
1.1 Energy balance...................................................................................3
2.0 Energy consumption...........................................................................4
2.1 Basal metabolism...............................................................................5
2.2 The thermogenic effect of the diet.....................................................6
2.3 Physical activity..................................................................................6
3.0 Calculation of energy consumption....................................................8
4.0 Energy intake...................................................................................10
4.1 Macronutrients.................................................................................10
4.2 Carbohydrate...................................................................................10
4.3 Simple carbohydrates (mono- and disaccharides)...........................11
4.4 Polyols/sugar alcohols......................................................................12
4.5 Oligosaccharides..............................................................................12
4.6 Polysaccharides................................................................................13
4.7 Dietary fiber.....................................................................................13
4.8 Whole grains....................................................................................14
4.8 Digestion and metabolism of carbohydrates....................................15
4.9 Glycemic index.................................................................................16
4.9.1 Carbohydrates in the Danish diet..................................................17
5.0 Protein..............................................................................................17
5.1 Amino acids......................................................................................19
5.2 Classification of amino acids............................................................19
5.3 Protein quality..................................................................................19
5.4 Protein turnover...............................................................................20
5.5 Protein requirements........................................................................21
5.6 Insufficient supply of energy and/or protein.....................................22
6.0 Fat....................................................................................................22
6.1 Triglycerides and fatty acids.............................................................23
6.2 Phospholipids...................................................................................25
6.3 Steroids............................................................................................25
Page 1of 36
,6.4 Digestion and metabolism of fat......................................................26
6.5 Alcohol..............................................................................................29
7.0 Micronutrients..................................................................................29
7.1 Vitamins...........................................................................................29
7.2 Minerals and trace elements............................................................31
8.0 Food groups......................................................................................32
Page 2of 36
, Energy and nutrients
1.0 Energy metabolism in the body
Energy turnover = metabolism. It consists of 2 processes that are
constantly taking place in the body:
1. Catabolic, the degradative.
2. Anabolic, the building up.
The processes are catalyzed by enzymes, which means that the enzymes
make the processes proceed faster. The body will try to achieve
equilibrium between the two processes and thus achieve energy balance.
The body is said to be in energy balance when energy expenditure equals
energy intake.
Energy consumption can be measured in the following units:
1 kcal = 4.184 kJ (4.2 kJ)
1 kJ = 0.239 kcal (0.24 kcal)
1 MJ = 1000 kJ
The diet contains energy stored in the macronutrients carbohydrate, fat,
protein and alcohol. This energy is transferred to the body when the
macronutrients are digested and absorbed. The energy is stored in the
body as energy-rich compounds, such as ATP, and is used for energy-
demanding processes such as muscle work, building new tissue and heat.
1.1 Energy balance
The energy requirement of healthy adults corresponds to the energy
intake necessary to maintain weight and cover the energy expenditure for
physical activity. In children, the energy intake must also cover the
energy requirement for normal growth and development.
Over a shorter period of one to four days, energy intake and energy
expenditure do not need to be identical, but if there is an imbalance over
a longer period, it will be expressed in the form of changes in weight. This
change in weight can be due to the build-up of tissue or the breakdown of
tissue. The body stores excess energy as fat, and this will contribute to
weight gain. However, an increased energy intake in relation to energy
Page 3of 36
, expenditure can also result in increased muscle mass, but this requires
that the muscle mass is also loaded, for example by strength training.
It takes more energy to build tissue than is released when tissue is broken
down. Breaking down 1 kg of body tissue corresponds to a deficit of about
20 MJ, while 1 kg of built body tissue corresponds to a surplus of about 30
MJ.
2.0 Energy consumption
The components that have an overall impact on the body's energy
consumption are basal metabolic rate, the heat-producing, thermogenic
effect of the diet, and physical activity.
Page 4of 36
