EPN-V2

MAVIT4800 Personalized Nutrition Course description

Course name in Norwegian
Persontilpasset ernæring
Weight
10.0 ECTS
Year of study
2023/2024
Course history
Curriculum
FALL 2023
SPRING 2024
Schedule
Programme description

  • Introduction

    Language of instruction: Norwegian 

    It is known that individuals respond differently to intake of the same food. Much of this individual response can be explained by individual gene variants, epigenetics, gut microbiota and exposure to environmental factors. Personalised nutrition is nutritional advice adapted to individuals or groups of ‘similar’ individuals. The nutritional advice is therefore based on the individual’s biology in interaction with the environment. Personalised nutrition is a discipline related to personalised or precision medicine, where also individual variations form the basis for preventing and treating illness. These disciplines are developing very rapidly due to technological developments and increased knowledge in the field of molecular biology. This course aims to provide an introduction to key concepts and technological methods related to personalised nutrition and medicine. It will also provide an insight into how personalised nutrition can contribute to improve the health of individuals and thereby public health

  • Required preliminary courses

    The student must have been admitted to the Master’s Programme in Health Sciences.

  • Learning outcomes

    After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

    Knowledge 

    The student

    • can discuss important concepts in personalised nutrition and medicine, such as nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics, epigenetics, gene variants (SNPs) and systems biology
    • can discuss the causes and significance of individual responses to intake of food and the development of non-communicable diseases
    • can describe large-scale biotechnological methods that form the basis for knowledge about individual responses and personalised nutrition and medicine
    • can critically discuss ethical and personal data challenges related to personalised nutrition, such as knowledge about gene variants and risk of illness

    Skills 

    The student

    • can critically assess problems related to the use of personalised nutrition
    • can discuss social implications of using individual rather than population-based dietary advice

    General competence

    The student

    • can stay up to date on new biotechnological and scientific methods that are important for understanding individual variation and the development of non-communicable diseases
    • can communicate the significance of personalised nutrition in a well-founded, scientific manner

  • Teaching and learning methods

    The course will be mainly online, except for one seminar on campus during the start of the course. The online course will involve presentations, seminars and supervision. The course will use varied, student-active working methods, individually and in groups. The student is responsible to be up-to-date on activities and academic content in the learning platforms. 

  • Course requirements

    The following coursework must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the examination: 

    • Presentation (poster or talk) of a chosen topic in personalised nutrition, individually or in groups of two to three students. 

  • Assessment

    An individual home examination over 48 hours in the form of a written report based on a given template. Scope: 2,000 words (+/- 10%).  

  • Permitted exam materials and equipment

    All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

  • Grading scale

    Grade scale A-F.

  • Examiners

    All examinations are assessed by an internal and an external examiner.

  • Overlapping courses

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