222.641.01
Principles of Human Nutrition in Public Health

Location
East Baltimore
Term
1st Term
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2024 - 2025
Instruction Method
In-person
Class Time(s)
M, W, 1:30 - 3:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
Yes
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Parul Christian
Contact Name
Parul Christian
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

Basic background in biology/medical sciences

Description
Prepares students to integrate the biology of nutrition in solving public health problems globally, with application to public health research, policy and practice. Summarizes the history of nutritional sciences as related to public health and provides an integrated overview of the physiological functions of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients that influence health, and risk for disease. Includes topics: dietary sources and nutrient requirements, absorption, metabolism, and function. Covers advances in the use of novel assessment techniques and biomarkers in the diagnoses of deficiency and nutritional status. Describes dynamics of the nutrition transition occurring globally and dietary underpinnings of overweight and non-communicable disease risks. Covers emerging topics linking nutrition, immunity, and gut microbiome. Extends nutrition principles to the health and disease risks across the lifespan and for conditions across the spectrum of under- to overnutrition.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Summarize public health nutrition history, philosophy, and values as it relates to the core functions and the 10 essentials of public health
  2. List the major macro- and micronutrients and explain their relevance to human health, the global distribution of deficiency disorders and associated diseases
  3. Explain biological factors that affect a population’s health, specifically, the underlying nutrient-related metabolic processes in maintaining health and preventing disease
  4. Explain energy balance and dietary intakes and the scientific rationale and public health significance of defining nutrient requirements in healthy individuals and populations, and referencing specific physiologic states such as pregnancy and lactation, early childhood, adolescence, and older age
  5. Summarize the various tools and assessment techniques used in the assessment of individual and population nutritional status and understand the landscape of various -omics biomarkers and diagnostic technologies being developed in an advancing field of precision nutrition
  6. Discuss the role of diet and intakes of macronutrients influencing weight loss and cardiovascular health
  7. Describe the impact of globalization and global influences of food systems, socioeconomic disparities and climate change on nutrition transition in individuals and populations, and how that relates to changing burdens of non-communicable disease and the double burden of disease
  8. Explain the connection between nutrition and immune function the role of the microbiome and gut health and implications for the treatment of infections and WaSH interventions
  9. Apply principles of human nutrition and evaluate their relevance to public health in a global context
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 40% Problem sets
  • 20% Participation
  • 40% Final Exam
Enrollment Restriction
MSPH and PHD Human Nutrition students have priority enrolling in person.
Instructor Consent
Consent required for all students
Consent Note
MSPH and PHD Human Nutrition students have priority enrolling in person.
Consent Contact
pchrist1@jhu.edu
Special Comments

MSPH and PHD Human Nutrition students have priority enrolling in person.hich the class will meet twice a week, this class will meet once a week for 110 minutes. In addition to regular homework, students are expected to spend 110 minutes a week on class work (e.g. viewing online modules and completing problem sets).