Nutrition and metabolism / Grayson Piper.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Fundamentals of nutrition -- Molecular aspects -- The basics of metabolism -- Growth and ageing -- Nutrition and the brain functions -- Cardiovascular system -- The immune system -- Exercise and nutrition.

"Recent advances in high-throughput analysis have assisted in a better understanding of metabolism and revealed the active role of nutrients and their metabolites in regulating gene expression and cellular function. Nutrients and their metabolites not only serve as building blocks of cellular structures and as fuel sources, but also serve as direct modifiers of protein function, potent signaling molecules as well as inducers and repressors of gene expression. Many of them participate in regulating gene expression by directly modulating the activities of transcription factors and by moderating the changes in epigenetic markings in the genome. One view that is emerging is that optimal cellular homeostasis is crucial for maintaining health and avoiding diseases caused by nutrient deficiency or excess. This book is an essential reading for students of nutrition and dietetics, and also for those students who major in other subjects that have a nutrition component, such as food science, medicine, pharmacy and nursing. Professionals in nutrition, dietetics, food science, medicine, health sciences and many related areas will also find much of great value within its pages"-- Back cover.