Basic Micronutrients Course

Lesson 1 • Defining Nutrition and Nutrients

Introduces the science of nutrition and distinguishes macronutrients from micronutrients. Sets the conceptual baseline for understanding why micronutrients are essential.

Lesson 2 • Dietary Reference Intakes Explained

Defines RDA, AI, UL, and EAR values and their practical applications. Provides the quantitative framework used throughout the course for evaluating adequacy.

Lesson 3 • Metabolism and Energy Balance

Explains cellular metabolism and how micronutrients function as enzyme cofactors. Links energy balance to micronutrient-dependent metabolic pathways.

Lesson 4 • Food Sources and Dietary Patterns

Surveys major food groups as micronutrient delivery systems. Connects dietary pattern quality to overall micronutrient sufficiency.

Lesson 1 • Inhibitors of Micronutrient Absorption

Covers antinutrients and dietary factors that reduce micronutrient uptake. Prepares students to identify and mitigate absorption barriers in dietary assessment.

Lesson 2 • Physiological Factors Affecting Absorption

Addresses how age, health status, and gut integrity alter micronutrient bioavailability. Connects individual physiology to personalised nutrition recommendations.

Lesson 3 • Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions

Explores synergistic and antagonistic relationships between micronutrients. Demonstrates how supplementation of one nutrient can deplete or enhance another.

Lesson 4 • Enhancers of Micronutrient Absorption

Identifies dietary compounds that increase micronutrient uptake, such as vitamin C with non-heme iron. Builds practical knowledge for meal planning to maximise absorption.

Lesson 1 • Vitamin C: Ascorbic Acid

Examines ascorbic acid as an antioxidant and collagen synthesis cofactor. Connects scurvy pathology to the biochemical functions of vitamin C.

Lesson 2 • Folate: Structure, Function, and Deficiency

Details folate's role in one-carbon metabolism and DNA synthesis. Emphasises neural tube defect prevention and the distinction between food folate and folic acid.

Lesson 3 • Thiamin, Riboflavin, and Niacin

Covers the first three B vitamins as central players in energy-releasing metabolism. Links their coenzyme forms to specific metabolic pathways and deficiency diseases.

Lesson 4 • Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and B6

Examines three B vitamins with broad metabolic roles in fatty acid synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. Highlights food sources and at-risk populations.

Lesson 1 • Vitamin A: Retinoids and Carotenoids

Distinguishes preformed retinol from provitamin A carotenoids and covers vision, immunity, and gene expression roles. Addresses hypervitaminosis A toxicity.

Lesson 2 • Vitamin E: Tocopherols and Tocotrienols

Focuses on alpha-tocopherol as the primary antioxidant protecting cell membranes from lipid peroxidation. Reviews food sources and deficiency in fat malabsorption.

Lesson 3 • Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

Traces vitamin D synthesis from sun exposure through activation in the liver and kidneys. Covers calcium homeostasis, bone health, and widespread deficiency risk.

Lesson 4 • Vitamin K: Coagulation and Bone Health

Covers K1 and K2 forms, their roles in clotting factor activation and osteocalcin carboxylation. Addresses anticoagulant drug interactions.

Lesson 1 • Sulfur: Structural and Detoxification Roles

Examines sulfur as a component of cysteine, methionine, and glutathione. Connects sulfur-containing amino acids to antioxidant defence and liver detoxification.

Lesson 2 • Assessing Macromineral Status Clinically

Reviews laboratory and clinical methods for evaluating macromineral adequacy. Prepares students to interpret common biomarkers used in nutritional assessment.

Lesson 3 • Calcium and Phosphorus: Bone Matrix Partners

Details the interdependence of calcium and phosphorus in hydroxyapatite formation and cellular signalling. Covers dietary sources, absorption regulation, and osteoporosis risk.

Lesson 4 • Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride: Electrolyte Balance

Covers the roles of the three major electrolytes in fluid balance, nerve impulse transmission, and blood pressure regulation. Links dietary intake patterns to cardiovascular risk.

Lesson 1 • Manganese, Fluoride, and Chromium

Examines three lesser-studied trace minerals with specific roles in bone formation, dental health, and glucose metabolism. Addresses adequate intake levels and toxicity concerns.

Lesson 2 • Iron: Oxygen Transport and Metabolism

Examines heme and non-heme iron absorption, haemoglobin synthesis, and iron-deficiency anaemia. Covers iron overload disorders and regulatory mechanisms.

Lesson 3 • Zinc and Copper: Enzymatic Trace Minerals

Details zinc's role in immune function, wound healing, and gene expression, alongside copper's role in antioxidant enzymes and iron metabolism. Highlights their competitive absorption.

Lesson 4 • Selenium and Iodine: Thyroid-Related Minerals

Covers selenium's role in glutathione peroxidase and thyroid hormone metabolism, and iodine's essential function in thyroid hormone synthesis. Links deficiency to goitre and cretinism.

Lesson 1 • Populations at Elevated Deficiency Risk

Identifies physiological and socioeconomic factors that increase deficiency risk across the lifespan. Connects population-level data to individual clinical assessment.

Lesson 2 • Nutritional Assessment and Diagnosis

Introduces the ABCD framework for nutritional assessment: anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary methods. Prepares students to conduct and interpret comprehensive micronutrient evaluations.

Lesson 3 • Toxicity: Upper Limits and Adverse Effects

Covers the mechanisms and symptoms of micronutrient toxicity, focusing on fat-soluble vitamins and select minerals. Explains how the Tolerable Upper Intake Level is established.

Lesson 4 • Mechanisms of Deficiency Development

Explains the progression from inadequate intake to subclinical and clinical deficiency. Introduces the concept of nutrient depletion stages and their diagnostic markers.

Lesson 1 • Plant-Based Diets and Micronutrient Planning

Identifies micronutrients at risk in vegan and vegetarian diets and evidence-based strategies to address gaps. Prepares students to counsel individuals following plant-based dietary patterns.

Lesson 2 • Micronutrient Supplementation: Evidence and Practice

Evaluates the evidence base for common micronutrient supplements and their appropriate clinical use. Distinguishes food-first approaches from justified supplementation scenarios.

Lesson 3 • Adolescent and Reproductive-Age Nutrition

Examines increased micronutrient demands during puberty and reproductive years. Focuses on iron, calcium, folate, and iodine for menstruating and pregnant individuals.

Lesson 4 • Micronutrients in Chronic Disease Management

Explores how chronic diseases alter micronutrient requirements and how targeted nutrition supports disease management. Covers diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory conditions.

Lesson 5 • Micronutrients for Older Adults

Addresses age-related changes in absorption, metabolism, and appetite that increase deficiency risk. Covers vitamin D, B12, calcium, and magnesium in healthy aging.