Systematic and Nutritional Biochemistry

The course of Systematic and Nutritional Biochemistry aims to integrate and deepen the biochemical concepts acquired in the course of General Biochemistry by covering further aspects on metabolism, on integration and regulation of metabolic pathways, as well as providing information on the biochemical properties of nutrients. In particular, this course aims to lead students through a path that projects them towards understanding the basic mechanisms responsible for alterations of homeostasis and the onset of diseases, which will allow them to develop a direct connection between theory and clinical application of biochemistry, also in relation to the nutritional status of the individual.
Learning objectives of the frontal lessons are to develop skills related to:
- mechanism of biochemical regulation of the metabolic pathways that occur in the main tissues (liver, muscle, adipose tissue, nervous system, blood, bone tissue) in order to understand, at a biochemical and molecular level, the complex communication phenomena between organs and tissues, the control systems of their functions, their interrelationships in physiological conditions and the conditions that can lead to their alteration;
- biochemical, metabolic and epigenetic functions of micro- and macronutrients and other dietary constituents.
Learning objective of the exercises is to provide the student with the opportunity to integrate the theoretical knowledge dealed in the frontal lessons with clinical data to better understand the role of some biomolecules, such as enzymes, hormones, vitamins and minerals, in the biological functions of the human body and the effects of changes in the levels of these constituents on the predisposition and/or efficient diagnosis of various diseases.

At the end of the Systematic Biochemistry and Nutrition course, the student should be able to outline the general metabolic overview at the level of human organs and tissues, also in relation to the nutritional status. The student should also be able to describe, at the molecular level, the control systems of the metabolic functions of the main organs and tissues under normal conditions for maintaining the homeostasis of the main metabolites.
With regard to application skills, at the end of the course the student will possess the knowledge that will allow him/her to integrate, interpret and explain with appropriate scientific language numerous phenomena related to the normal and pathological conditions of the human body. The student will also know the levels of different metabolites present in human fluids, such as blood and urine, so that he/she will be able to interpret changes in these levels to correlate them with different human diseases. Furthermore, at the end of the course the student will have acquired the cultural tools and knowledge necessary to understand the biochemical nature of micro- and macronutrients whose proper intake and processing ensure homeostasis in the human body.