Metabolism and Nutrition

Code:

315

Acronym:

MN

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Sports Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LCD	212	First Degree in Sports Sciences (2011/2012)	3	-	3	30	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

To provide the students with the basic knowledge to enable them to understand the requirements of a balanced diet regarding the daily metabolic requirements, either in health or in Sport perspectives.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students must demonstrate the following skills:

• Understand the importance of metabolism and nutrition both in health and well-being, and in Sport
• Understand the main metabolic pathways as well as their metabolic integration
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the physiological and biochemical mechanisms controlling macronutrient metabolism during exercise, training, and recovery
• Recognize the importance of the interrelational roles of  nutrition and physical activity in promoting health and preventing diseases
• Understand the importance of adequate nutrition in optimizing body composition, reducing the risk of injuries and fatigue, and improving sports performance
• Acquire critical thinking skills through discussions of current scientific literature.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Basic knowledge of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Physiology and Human Anatomy, generally acquired in secondary education degree and in the two preceding years of the course.

Program

I. Metabolism
1. Metabolism introduction
4. Digestion and absorption of the food nutrients
5. Nutrient role in bioenergetics
6. Macronutrient metabolism in exercise and training
     6.1 Carbohydrates metabolism
     6.2 Lipids metabolism
     6.3 Protein metabolism
6. Metabolic Integration

II. Nutrition
1.Fundamental concepts in Nutrition and Human Food
2. Macronutrients
3. Micronutrients
4. Nutritional choices
5. Nutritional requirements to achieve nutritional balance
6. Nutritional requirements in sports. Nutritional considerations for the physically active person, intense training, and sports competition
7. Exercise, thermoregulation, fluid balance, and rehydration
8.Suplemmentation in sports
9. Body composition assessment and sport-specific observation
10. Energy balance, exercise, and weight control
11.Discussion of current topics

Mandatory literature

William D. McArdle; Sports and exercise nutrition
Bender; Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism
Michael Lieberman; Marks. basic medical biochemistry. ISBN: 13-978-1-975174-71-2

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expositive

keywords

Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Nutritional sciences

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	51,00
Frequência das aulas	30,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Final exam, consisting of 40 multiple choice questions covering all the material taught. Students who obtain grade equal to or greater than 9.5 (on a scale from 0 to 20) will be approved.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation of the students is according to the legal roles established by the University of Porto as well as those defined by the Pedagogic Council from the Faculty of Sport. Regarding the exam of the CU, two evaluation moments will be considered as 1st and 2nd seasons. It is important to note that the score obtained in test cannot be lower than 9.5 values. For those students who do not achieve positive score during the 1st season, they can be under evaluation during the 2nd season, in which they also need to obtain a minimum score of 9.5 values. The final score of the test will be adjusted for unit values (without decimal places).
The final result of the CU exam will correspond to 100% of final classification.