ACBN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ACBN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. The FTC's 'Health Products Compliance Guidance' specifically requires that health claims in advertising be: → Truthful, non-deceptive, and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence
2. The nutrition transition model describes a shift in dietary patterns characterized by movement from: → Traditional plant-based diets toward high-fat, high-sugar, processed food diets
3. Essential amino acids must be obtained from the diet because the body cannot synthesize them. How many essential amino acids are there for adults? → 9
4. Which hormone primarily regulates long-term energy balance by signaling satiety to the hypothalamus? → Leptin
5. Which feature of a nutrition-focused electronic health record (EHR) MOST directly reduces medication-nutrient interaction errors? → Integrated drug-nutrient interaction alert system
6. Which anthropometric measurement is most commonly used alongside BMI to specifically assess central (abdominal) adiposity? → Waist circumference
7. Scurvy results from a deficiency of which nutrient that is essential for collagen synthesis? → Vitamin C
8. The Maillard reaction, relevant in cooking and food processing, involves a reaction between: → Amino acids and reducing sugars
9. A client presents with night blindness and dry, scaly skin. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely? → Vitamin A
10. The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) include all of the following EXCEPT: → Maximum Safe Dose (MSD)
11. In MNT for heart failure, fluid restriction is typically indicated when daily fluid intake exceeds: → 1.5–2 liters per day
12. Which of the following best describes the principle of beneficence in nutrition practice? → Actively promoting the client's well-being through evidence-based care
13. Which tool is most appropriate for epidemiological research that needs to assess how frequently specific foods are consumed over a defined period? → Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ)
14. A 65-year-old woman on warfarin asks about increasing her intake of leafy greens. What is the primary risk management concern? → Vitamin K antagonizing warfarin's anticoagulant effect
15. Which hereditary condition causes impaired copper metabolism, leading to copper accumulation in the liver, brain, and cornea? → Wilson's disease
16. Publication bias in nutrition research refers to the tendency for: → Positive or significant results to be published more frequently than null findings
17. Which population has the highest nutritional risk for iron deficiency anemia based on physiological demand? → Adolescent females
18. Which risk factor combination most significantly increases a client's likelihood of developing osteoporosis? → Postmenopausal status, low calcium intake, and smoking
19. A telehealth nutritionist conducts video sessions across state lines. Which regulatory requirement is MOST critical to verify before initiating care? → State licensure reciprocity or interstate compact membership
20. Which of the following best describes the role of a nutritionist in an interdisciplinary care team meeting? → Provide nutrition-specific expertise and integrate it with the team's overall care plan
21. In the context of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements, which of the following is a core manufacturer responsibility? → Ensuring product identity, purity, strength, and composition
22. The term 'lot traceability' in food quality systems refers to: → Identifying and following a specific batch of food through the supply chain
23. Which behavior demonstrates active listening during a nutrition counseling session? → Nodding and paraphrasing the patient's statements
24. The justice principle in nutrition ethics most directly concerns: → Ensuring fair, equitable access to nutrition services across all populations
25. Which indirect calorimetry measurement is considered the gold standard for determining resting energy expenditure (REE) in clinical settings? → Metabolic cart (respiratory gas analysis)
26. A nutritionist auditing a hospital kitchen finds that sanitizer concentration in the dishwasher is below the required level. This is an example of a failure in: → Prerequisite programs
27. A registered nutritionist counseling a vegan client should emphasize supplementation of which nutrient above all others? → Vitamin B12
28. Continuing education requirements for ACBN-certified nutritionists serve primarily to: → Ensure practitioners stay current with evolving nutrition science and practice
29. A breastfeeding mother asks about her increased nutrient needs. Which nutrient has the highest percentage increase above baseline DRI during lactation? → Iodine
30. How should an ACBN professional present complex information to non-experts? → Translate into accessible language, use visuals, and check for understanding