Tools and Techniques in Nutrition Research

The main objective of the course is to provide a solid understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of using a variety of methodologies that are available for assessing dietary intake, physical activity, body composition, and metabolism.

Knowledge:

• Describe different methods that can be used to assess dietary intake (in relation to nutrients or foods); body composition (in relation to fat, muscle, water, and bone); physical activity patterns and fitness levels; and energy metabolism (resting and postprandial metabolic rates, exercise energy expenditure, total daily energy expenditure).
• Outline the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
• Recognize the existence (or the absence) of national and international nutrient and dietary reference values and standards that can be used to evaluate the results.

Skills:

• Utilize a food recall or record to assess dietary intake by means of digital tools and evaluate the results.
• Measure resting metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry and estimate total energy expenditure.
• Measure body composition by different methods and compare the results.
• Measure the levels of various biomarkers in blood by using wet lab techniques.

Competences:

• Choose the most appropriate methodology to answer any given research question in any given experimental situation.
• Evaluate the results in relation to national and international nutrient and dietary reference values and standards.
• Reflect on the results after taking into consideration the limitations of the method used to obtain them.