FISIOLOGIA E BIOCHIMICA

8 CFU - 1° Semester

Teaching Staff

AGOSTINO PALMERI - Module Physiology - BIO/09 - 4 CFU
DANIELE TIBULLO - Module BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE - BIO/10 - 4 CFU

Learning Objectives

Physiology
The course aims at acquiring in-depth knowledge on the adaptations of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, endocrine and neuromuscular functions of the human body in response to sports activities, even in extreme environmental conditions, at different intensities, in relation to gender, age, state of health or clinical condition of each subject; physiological changes induced by training; also for the purpose of knowing the functional responses related to motor assessment and exercise tests. The practical skills achieved will include the ability to perform assessments on aerobic capacity, using various types of tests (cycle ergometer, running, step); the determination of the maximum oxygen consumption; the interpretation of an ECG under exercise in normal conditions.
BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE
The student will have to know the basic elements on the biochemical and nutritional role of macro, micronutrients and nutraceutical components contained in foods commonly used in human nutrition. He will acquire knowledge about: the biochemical and nutritional characteristics of nutrients as well as their functional and modulatory value, the biochemical mechanisms that underlie the main metabolic pathways, their regulation and integration in sport.

Course Structure

Physiology
Frontal lessons.
BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE
Lectures with the help of presentations in Power Point format. The use of the main food composition databases will also be illustrated during the lessons.

Detailed Course Content

Physiology
- Physical activity for health and physical efficiency: Hypokinetic disease; Obesity; Body weight control; Sport and diabetes.
- Functional evaluation in non-competitive and competitive activity.
- Performance and athletic conditioning: Food supplements; doping substances.
- Physiological aspects of motor and sports activity in adolescents: Development of muscular strength and resistance training in children and adolescents. Aerobic and anaerobic performance plasticity with growth. Cardio-respiratory responses in the developmental age.
- Physical exercise in old age: Changes in the main physiological functions in aging. Muscle, metabolic and cardio-respiratory responses in the elderly.
- Physical activity at great heights: Respiratory mechanics at high altitude. Ventilatory response and acid-base balance in hypoxia. Cardio-circulatory adaptations to acute and chronic hypoxia. Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism at great heights.
- Immersion physiology: Environmental characteristics of apnea and scuba diving. Physiological aspects of respiratory activity, cardio-circulatory activity and energy metabolism in underwater activity.
- Elements on electrophysiological investigation techniques of the central and peripheral nervous system: Evoked potentials; EMG techniques; recording techniques and motion kinematics analysis.
- Muscle pain and physical activity.
- Itori Transient consciousness disturbances and physical activity.
BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE
Bioenergetics: Energy and nutrients. Energy value of nutrients. Energy metabolism in physical exercise. Muscle fibers and metabolic pathways. Body composition: Levels and methods of studying body composition. Compartmental models and their applications. Methods for evaluating energy expenditure: Energy requirements. Energy expenditure. Techniques for the evaluation of energy expenditure. Foods, nutrients and nutrition: Macro and micro nutrients. Characteristics and classification of foods. Nutrition and nutrition. Essential and indispensable nutrients. Minimum nutrient needs and recommended intake levels. Digestion of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Absorption of nutrients. Glucides: chemical characteristics, carbohydrates in food, unavailable carbohydrates (dietary fiber). Lipids: fatty acids, cholesterol, lipids in food, plasma lipoproteins, essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6). Proteins: protein turnover, amino acids and their food sources, proteins in food, needs and quality of proteins. Water: water and its properties, water in food, body water, water balance. Ancillary foods: ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages, alcohol and sports, nerve beverages, caffeine and sports activities. Food history: eating habits, food diaries. Balanced nutrition: nutrition and health, nutritional needs and standards, guidelines for proper nutrition, nutritional goals. Nutrition in the different periods of life: pregnancy, breastfeeding, preschool age, adolescence, menopause and old age. Use of food supplements. Integrations and metabolic interrelationships related to eating / fasting rhythms.

Textbook Information

Physiology
McArdle W. D., Katch F.I., Katch V.L Fisiologia applicata allo sport. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana – Milano 2018
BIOCHIMICA DELLA NUTRIZIONE
U.LEUZZI, E. BELLOCCO, D.BARRECA, Biochimica della Nutrizione. Zanichelli Editore, 2013.

G.ARIENTI, le basi molecolari della nutrizione. PICCIN editore 2016.

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