Preface

The idea of writing a book has had a relatively long gestation period. From a young age in the mid-eighties, as a biology and biochemistry volunteer tutor for underrepresented and disadvantaged high school students in Tunisia, I have had a profound desire to contribute to the personal and professional development of others. I feel the most fulfilled when I am educating and serving others. At that time, several students suggested that my notes could be organized and compiled in a text book. Unfortunately, although the idea was inspiring, I couldn’t write the book for diverse reasons including lack of infrastructure (computer, etc.) and scientific maturity as well as economic disadvantages and constraints.

As I am drawn to the challenges of teaching and research because it gives me the opportunity to mentor students and contribute to their intellectual growth, which I consider to be the most valuable and worthwhile accomplishment, I joined the University of Arkansas in 2013 to conduct research on avian molecular nutrition and to develop and taught a biochemical nutrition course (POSC/ANSC 5143). At the beginning of this class, my students from different departments (poultry, animal, and food science, kinesiology, and nursing) and I used several biochemistry and nutrition conventional textbooks that we ordered through textbook department. After interaction with several students, the idea of organizing and collate my course notes in a text book was revived and regenerated. Taking advantage of technology expanding and advancement, I decided to compile my course in an electronic book (book) to enhance the learning process, encourage the students’ creativity and learning autonomy, and reduce the burden of carrying heavy textbooks. This in turn, allows me to gain new perspectives on biochemical nutrition topics that inform my research, and reexamine the key ideas and assumptions that shape the production of knowledge in my field.

This book is intended to provide the readers with a comprehensive account of the interrelationship of nutrition and metabolism as well as an understanding of physiological changes that occur in the whole body as a result of excessive or deficient diets, and the endocrine and molecular regulatory mechanisms controlling such changes.

I tried to keep the book current with latest scientific advances and at the same time maintain a clear and readable style. It is my wish that this book will be revised and updated every five years because of the plenitude of new information and progress. Mrs. Humaira Hashmi, In-charge eBook department, at Bentham Science has been a source of support and encouragement. I owe a debt of gratitude to my family, my wife and my kids, for their unflagging support and their tolerance of my absence. Also, my students were the original inspiration for this book and I remain endlessly grateful to them, because from them I learn how to think and how to communicate knowledge in the most efficient, clear, and meaningful way.