NR 228 Proficiency Study Guide (Latest 2025–
2026) Questions and Answers (Verified
Answers)
Section 1: Foundations of Nutrition & Macronutrients
1. What are the six classes of nutrients?
Answer: Carbohydrates, Lipids (Fats), Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.
2. Define what an "essential nutrient" is.
Answer: An essential nutrient is one that the body cannot synthesize at all or cannot synthesize
in sufficient amounts to meet its needs. Therefore, it must be obtained from the diet (e.g.,
Vitamin C, essential amino acids, linoleic acid).
3. What is the primary function of carbohydrates in the body?
Answer: To provide the body's main and most efficient source of energy (4 kcal/gram),
particularly for the brain and central nervous system.
4. Differentiate between a simple carbohydrate and a complex carbohydrate.
Answer: Simple carbohydrates (sugars) have a basic chemical structure of one or two sugar units
(e.g., glucose, fructose, sucrose). Complex carbohydrates (starches and fibers) are long, complex
chains of many sugar units bonded together.
5. Name the three disaccharides and their component monosaccharides.
Answer:
• Sucrose (Glucose + Fructose) - Table sugar
• Lactose (Glucose + Galactose) - Milk sugar
• Maltose (Glucose + Glucose) - Malt sugar
6. What is glycogen and where is it stored?
Answer: Glycogen is the storage form of glucose in animals and humans. It is stored primarily
in the liver and muscle tissue.
7. What are the health benefits of dietary fiber?
Answer: Promotes satiety, aids in weight management, helps prevent constipation and
diverticulosis, slows glucose absorption, and can help lower blood cholesterol levels.
8. What is the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for carbohydrates?
Answer: 45-65% of total daily caloric intake.
, 9. What is the primary function of lipids (fats)?
Answer: To provide a concentrated source of energy (9 kcal/gram), serve as a stored energy
reserve, cushion and protect organs, and are essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
(A, D, E, K).
10. Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
Answer: Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms, are solid at room
temperature, and are primarily found in animal products. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or
more double bonds, are liquid at room temperature (oils), and are found in plant-based foods and
fish.
11. What are trans fats, and why are they a health concern?
Answer: Trans fats are unsaturated fats that have been artificially hydrogenated to be more solid
and stable. They raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol,
significantly increasing the risk of heart disease.
12. What are the two essential fatty acids?
Answer: Linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).
13. What is the AMDR for fats?
Answer: 20-35% of total daily caloric intake.
14. What is the primary function of protein in the body?
Answer: To build, maintain, and repair body tissues (e.g., muscle, bone, skin, hair). It also serves
as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
15. How many amino acids are there, and how many are considered essential?
Answer: There are 20 common amino acids. Nine are essential for adults.
16. What is the energy yield of protein?
Answer: 4 kcal/gram.
17. Differentiate between a complete (high-quality) and an incomplete protein source.
Answer: A complete protein contains all nine essential amino acids in sufficient proportions
(e.g., animal products, soy, quinoa). An incomplete protein is low in one or more essential amino
acids (e.g., grains, legumes, nuts, seeds).
18. What is complementary protein? Provide an example.
Answer: Combining two or more incomplete protein sources to provide all essential amino
acids. Example: Rice (low in lysine but high in methionine) and beans (low in methionine but
high in lysine).
19. What is the AMDR for protein?
Answer: 10-35% of total daily caloric intake.
2026) Questions and Answers (Verified
Answers)
Section 1: Foundations of Nutrition & Macronutrients
1. What are the six classes of nutrients?
Answer: Carbohydrates, Lipids (Fats), Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, and Water.
2. Define what an "essential nutrient" is.
Answer: An essential nutrient is one that the body cannot synthesize at all or cannot synthesize
in sufficient amounts to meet its needs. Therefore, it must be obtained from the diet (e.g.,
Vitamin C, essential amino acids, linoleic acid).
3. What is the primary function of carbohydrates in the body?
Answer: To provide the body's main and most efficient source of energy (4 kcal/gram),
particularly for the brain and central nervous system.
4. Differentiate between a simple carbohydrate and a complex carbohydrate.
Answer: Simple carbohydrates (sugars) have a basic chemical structure of one or two sugar units
(e.g., glucose, fructose, sucrose). Complex carbohydrates (starches and fibers) are long, complex
chains of many sugar units bonded together.
5. Name the three disaccharides and their component monosaccharides.
Answer:
• Sucrose (Glucose + Fructose) - Table sugar
• Lactose (Glucose + Galactose) - Milk sugar
• Maltose (Glucose + Glucose) - Malt sugar
6. What is glycogen and where is it stored?
Answer: Glycogen is the storage form of glucose in animals and humans. It is stored primarily
in the liver and muscle tissue.
7. What are the health benefits of dietary fiber?
Answer: Promotes satiety, aids in weight management, helps prevent constipation and
diverticulosis, slows glucose absorption, and can help lower blood cholesterol levels.
8. What is the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for carbohydrates?
Answer: 45-65% of total daily caloric intake.
, 9. What is the primary function of lipids (fats)?
Answer: To provide a concentrated source of energy (9 kcal/gram), serve as a stored energy
reserve, cushion and protect organs, and are essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
(A, D, E, K).
10. Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.
Answer: Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms, are solid at room
temperature, and are primarily found in animal products. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or
more double bonds, are liquid at room temperature (oils), and are found in plant-based foods and
fish.
11. What are trans fats, and why are they a health concern?
Answer: Trans fats are unsaturated fats that have been artificially hydrogenated to be more solid
and stable. They raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol,
significantly increasing the risk of heart disease.
12. What are the two essential fatty acids?
Answer: Linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).
13. What is the AMDR for fats?
Answer: 20-35% of total daily caloric intake.
14. What is the primary function of protein in the body?
Answer: To build, maintain, and repair body tissues (e.g., muscle, bone, skin, hair). It also serves
as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
15. How many amino acids are there, and how many are considered essential?
Answer: There are 20 common amino acids. Nine are essential for adults.
16. What is the energy yield of protein?
Answer: 4 kcal/gram.
17. Differentiate between a complete (high-quality) and an incomplete protein source.
Answer: A complete protein contains all nine essential amino acids in sufficient proportions
(e.g., animal products, soy, quinoa). An incomplete protein is low in one or more essential amino
acids (e.g., grains, legumes, nuts, seeds).
18. What is complementary protein? Provide an example.
Answer: Combining two or more incomplete protein sources to provide all essential amino
acids. Example: Rice (low in lysine but high in methionine) and beans (low in methionine but
high in lysine).
19. What is the AMDR for protein?
Answer: 10-35% of total daily caloric intake.
