Macro Coach Certification Macronutrient Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which amino acid is considered conditionally essential during periods of intense physical stress or illness?
- Leucine
- Glutamine (Correct answer)
- Lysine
- Methionine
Correct answer: Glutamine
Glutamine becomes conditionally essential during catabolic stress because the body's demand exceeds its synthesis capacity.
Question 2: The thermic effect of protein is approximately what percentage of its caloric value?
- 5-10%
- 15-20%
- 25-30% (Correct answer)
- 35-40%
Correct answer: 25-30%
Protein has a thermic effect of approximately 25-30%, meaning roughly 25-30% of protein calories are burned during digestion and metabolism.
Question 3: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) differ from long-chain fatty acids primarily because they:
- Require bile salts for absorption
- Are transported via the portal vein directly to the liver (Correct answer)
- Are stored preferentially in adipose tissue
- Require carnitine for mitochondrial entry
Correct answer: Are transported via the portal vein directly to the liver
MCTs bypass the lymphatic system and are transported directly via the portal vein to the liver, enabling rapid oxidation.
Question 4: A client consumes 200g of carbohydrates per day. How many calories does this contribute?
- 400 kcal
- 600 kcal
- 800 kcal (Correct answer)
- 1,000 kcal
Correct answer: 800 kcal
Carbohydrates provide 4 kcal per gram, so 200g × 4 = 800 kcal.
Question 5: Which type of dietary fiber is most associated with lowering LDL cholesterol by binding bile acids in the gut?
- Insoluble fiber
- Cellulose
- Soluble viscous fiber (Correct answer)
- Resistant starch
Correct answer: Soluble viscous fiber
Soluble viscous fibers like beta-glucan and pectin form gels in the gut that trap bile acids, forcing the liver to convert more cholesterol into bile.
Question 6: During gluconeogenesis, which macronutrient-derived substrate is NOT typically used to synthesize glucose?
- Glucogenic amino acids
- Glycerol from triglycerides
- Lactate
- Acetyl-CoA from fatty acid oxidation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Acetyl-CoA from fatty acid oxidation
Acetyl-CoA cannot be converted to glucose in humans because the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction is irreversible and there is no net glucogenic pathway from pure acetyl-CoA.
Question 7: The concept of 'leucine threshold' in muscle protein synthesis refers to:
- The maximum leucine dose before toxicity occurs
- The minimum leucine dose needed to maximally stimulate mTORC1 signaling (Correct answer)
- The ratio of leucine to total protein intake
- The leucine content required to classify a protein as complete
Correct answer: The minimum leucine dose needed to maximally stimulate mTORC1 signaling
The leucine threshold is the minimum leucine dose (~2-3g per meal) required to fully activate mTORC1 and maximize the muscle protein synthesis response.
Macro Coach Certification Macronutrient Science 2
Which amino acid is considered conditionally essential during periods of intense physical stress or illness?