Table 1.1 displays the daily nutritional intake of two individuals alongside the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for a standard healthy adult.
Nutritional Component Standard Adult RDA Individual 1 (Adolescent Athlete) Individual 2 (Pregnant Female)
Daily Energy Intake / kJ 10 500 14 800 12 200
Protein / g 55 110 85
Calcium / mg 700 1 000 1 200
Iron / mg 14 15 28
Vitamin C / mg 40 80 60
Dietary Fibre / g 30 35 12
Define what is meant by a balanced diet.
Using data from Table 1.1:
Explain why Individual 2 (the pregnant female) requires significantly more iron and calcium than the standard adult RDA.
State the name of the clinical deficiency condition that could develop in Individual 2 if her daily iron intake remains deficient throughout pregnancy.
Individual 2's daily dietary fibre intake is only 12 g (well below the RDA of 30 g). Explain the physiological role of dietary fibre in the alimentary canal and state one health disorder caused by a chronic deficiency of dietary fibre.
Explain how severe protein-energy malnutrition causes the characteristic symptom of a swollen abdomen (ascites/oedema) in children suffering from kwashiorkor.