Homework: Micronutrients in Health and Disease
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. Although they are required in small quantities in your diet, they play a major role in health and the prevention of disease. U.S. government agencies have established recommendations and tools to assist you with ensuring that you consume an adequate supply of micronutrients. Due to the ongoing research into micronutrients being conducted at various organizations and institutions, the recommendations and available tools are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect any new research outcomes.
In this homework, you will work together in groups; taking on the role of researchers. As a group, you will collect all of the necessary information and data you will need to make recommendations to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Then, as individuals, you will each act as your team's representative and create your own memo with those recommendations. The following resources may assist you with completion of this homework:
National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Nutrient recommendations: dietary reference intakes.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2018, May 8). 2015-2020 dietary guidelines for Americans.
Homework Instructions:
Your team of scientific experts have been asked to determine what updates should be made to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Once your team group has compiled all of the necessary information and appropriate data, a memo must be generated to present this information to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
You will be assigned to one of the following scientific groups based on your LAST name for this homework:
Last Name Begins With
Micronutrient
A - G
Vitamin D
H - M
Calcium
N - S
Potassium
T - Z
Iron
TEAM PORTION:
As a group, you will begin by gathering background information to present to the Committee. You must include the following information on your respective nutrient:
a. Identification of the nutrient and type of nutrient (e.g., vitamin, mineral),
b. Explanation of the functions of the nutrient in the human body,
c. Role of nutrient in the promotion of health and prevention of disease,
d. Identification of food sources which may provide high amounts of the selected nutrient in the U.S. diet,
e. Average intake of the selected nutrient in the U.S., and
f. Recommended intake for a 30-year old male and a 30-year old female.
INDIVIDUAL PORTION:
Using this information, each group member will create a memo of at least 500 words that addresses:
a. Differences between the recommended intake and the average U.S. intake.
b. Based on the group's research, you will develop "key recommendations" to "increase/decrease intake" as appropriate regarding the assigned nutrient in the U.S. population to promote health and prevent disease.
c. Make sure to include the nutrient research information in the memo.
d. Remember, you are a representative of your scientific team group.
e. Provide at least two academic sources to support your recommendations.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.