NCHU Course Outline

Course Name	(中) 維生素與單碳代謝導論(5214)
	(Eng.) Introduction of Vitamins in One Carbon Metabolism
Offering Dept	Department of Food Science and Biotechnology
Course Type	Elective			Credits	2	Teacher	蔣恩沛
Department	Department of Food Science and Biotechnology / Undergraduate			Language	English	Semester	2026-FALL
Course Description	This graduate-level course introduces the roles of vitamins and micronutrients in one-carbon metabolism and their connections to cellular metabolism, metabolic regulation, health, disease, and nutritional intervention. Beyond fundamental knowledge, the course emphasizes a research-oriented and application-driven approach. Students will learn how to formulate research questions, critically evaluate scientific literature, identify appropriate analytical and experimental approaches, and interpret metabolic data. Particular emphasis will be placed on metabolomics, mass spectrometry, stable-isotope metabolic flux tracing, metabolic pathway analysis, and data quality control. Students are encouraged to apply the concepts and tools learned in the course to their own research questions and experimental data. The course follows the principle of: Learn → Apply → Create Rather than completing a conventional term report solely for course assessment, students will develop research-oriented outputs that may contribute to a conference presentation, research proposal, manuscript, patent, or technology-transfer opportunity. Students are expected to have basic knowledge in human physiology and/or nutrition and biochemistry. The following courses are recommended: Human Physiology Nutrition / Nutritional Biochemistry Mass Spectrometry Students with research experience in biochemistry, metabolism, metabolomics, molecular biology, or related fields are also encouraged to enroll. Note: Mass spectrometry is highly recommended because several course topics involve metabolomics and mass-spectrometry-based metabolic analysis.
Prerequisites

Relevance of Course Objectives and Core Learning Outcomes(%)			Teaching and Assessment Methods for Course Objectives
Course Objectives	Competency Indicators	Ratio(%)	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
By the end of the course, students should be able to: Explain the biochemical and physiological roles of vitamins and cofactors in one-carbon metabolism and related metabolic pathways. Integrate vitamin metabolism with broader metabolic networks, including amino acid metabolism, methyl-group metabolism, nucleotide synthesis, redox metabolism, and energy metabolism. Read and critically evaluate current scientific literature and identify important research questions and knowledge gaps. Understand and apply major research approaches used in metabolic research, including metabolomics, mass spectrometry, and stable-isotope metabolic flux tracing. Evaluate experimental data quality, including experimental design, controls, standards, QC procedures, database organization, and data interpretation. Identify and troubleshoot potential problems in metabolic experiments and analytical workflows. Apply course concepts to their own research, experimental data, or research questions. Communicate and develop research outcomes through scientific discussion, data presentation, and research-oriented projects. Develop the ability to transform scientific knowledge and analytical technologies into innovative research value and potential applications.			Lecturing Discussion topic Discussion / Production	Other Oral Presentation Written Presentation Attendance Assignment
Course Content and Homework/Schedule/Tests Schedule
Week Course Content Week 1 Introduction & Overview Week 2 Course philosophy; one-carbon metabolism as a research framework; Learn → Apply → Create; introduction to research-oriented learning and project-based learning Week 3 Nutrient-Genome Interactions in 1C metabolism in Human Health. Case Study: MTHFR and MTX efficacy Week 4 Drug-Genome Interactions in 1C metabolism. Case Study: Drug and gene interactions, (DMARDs and NSAIDs ) Week 5 Drug-Genome Interactions in 1C metabolism. Case Study: Biologics Week 6 Enzymes in 1C Metabolism & Their Interactions with Cofactors. Partitioning in 1C Metabolism and Their Interactions with Cofactors. Week 7 Partitioning in 1C Metabolism and Their Interactions with Cofactors. Case: Study: SHMT I. II. MTHFS Week 8 Metabolites in 1C metabolism Lecture: glycine, formate, choline, etc Week 9 Metabolites in 1C Metabolism. Case Study: GCS, GLY, and what’s next? Week 10 Folate and Folic Acid in Cancer. Folate and Folic Acid in Cancer. Case Study: GNMT I, II, III, and what’s next? Week 11 Dietary factors that affect 1C Metabolism-Sugar, High Fat, Calorie Restriction, Ketogenic Diets, Intermittent fasting, and the gene-nutrient interactions with GNMT Week 12 Factors affect 1C Metabolism-Energy Expenditure. Case Study: Aerobic vs. Anaerobic exercise, High Fat vs. Calorie RestrictionHF Week 13 Dietary factors affect 1C Metabolism-phytochemicals. Dietary factors affect 1C Metabolism-food factors. Case Study: Natural and Artificial Sweeteners Week 14 1C Metabolism in Human Diseases. Lecture: Statistical Analyses for case control, RCT. Case Study: AJM, JN, Gut, CCR, WJG Week 15 1C Metabolism in Human Diseases. Lecture: Human Study Design 1C Metabolism in Human Diseases. Case Study: AR1, AR2, JPET, AJCN, and what’s the next? 1C Metabolism in Human Diseases. Lecture and case Study: inflammation, PF, Sarcopenia? 1C Metabolism in Human Diseases. Lecture and case Study: type 1 & type 2 DB, Metformin and Actros. Week 16 Term paper and homework discussions (I) 1C Metabolism in microbes? Term paper and homework discussions (II) Term paper and homework discussions (III) self-directed learning    01.Participation in professional forums, lectures, and corporate sharing sessions related to industry-government-academia-research exchange activities.    02.Viewing multimedia materials related to industry and academia.    03.Preparing presentations or reports related to industry and academia.
Evaluation
1. Attend a conference and deliver an oral presentation 2. Written report could be: either a poster (in a real conference/competition), a grant proposal, a manuscript for submission, a patent application (or a term-paper) 3. Class participation and discussions
Textbook & other References
Handbook of Vitamins ISBN: 0-8247-0428-2, Third Edition (Clinical Nutrition in Health and Disease) by Robert B. Rucker (Author), John W. Suttie (Author), Donald B. McCormick (Author) Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism. 5th ed. Seattle, WA. Nutritional biochemistry by Tom Brody. 2nd. Ed Selected recent papers from the field.
Teaching Aids & Teacher's Website
Course materials Lecture printouts. Food and Nutrition in Translational Medicine Workshop from Stover PJ
Office Hours
by appointment (另與教師個別約時間)

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Update Date, year/month/day：2026/09/15 11:54:03	Printed Date, year/month/day：2026 / 9 / 23
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