Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism

Amy Hess Fischl, MS RDN LDN BC-ADM CDCES(University of Chicago Medical Center) **Description** This sixth edition of a primer of nutritional biochemistry, coming seven years after the last edition, builds on previous content to include key emerging areas of nutrition research, specifically the gut microbiome and epigenetics.*Purpose** The purpose is to enable readers to gain a working knowledge of how nutrients are metabolized and how they influence our metabolic status since these boiling blocks of knowledge are key to our relationship with food. Nutritional biochemistry is crucial to our understanding of the scientific basis behind eating principles. The book meets these objectives.**Audience** The book is written for "those using this information in their studies," which I consider to be nutrition students and nutrition practitioners. The book meets the needs of this audience. The lead author has been part of this book since the first edition. The second author also appears to be a credible authority as a nutrition lecturer and professor.**Features** The eleven chapters cover the key topics in nutritional biochemistry: micronutrients, enzymes and metabolic pathways, the role of ATP, digestion and absorption, metabolism of the macronutrients. The first chapter also delves into why we eat and spends a little time discussing religion, cultural differences, availability, and social status, which is a practical way to lay the framework for the information the book provides. The chapter on diet and health adds nutrition genomics to the conversation as well. While the book is laden with key content, the lead author also provides an additional resource on a website he controls called "The Virtual Tutorial." This has interactive exercises to help readers understand the metabolism of energy, carbohydrate, lipids, and protein. The author suggests that the exercises can be completed alone or in a group "gathered around the same computer." While the website is not formally part of the book, it does appear that it would be helpful for readers to test their knowledge in a more tangible way.**Assessment** This book is a perfectly acceptable option for students who are required to take a nutritional biochemistry course. Given the time between editions, this update is justified.--Weighted Numerical Score: 73 - 3 Stars