Inadequate consumption of which nutrient causes the most common nutrient deficiency in young children?
Magnesium
Iron
Folate
Vitamin C
The Correct Answer is B
A. Magnesium is essential for bone development, muscle function, and enzyme activity, but deficiency in young children is relatively uncommon in comparison to iron deficiency.
B. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in young children worldwide. Iron is crucial for the formation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood, and for proper cognitive and physical development. Inadequate iron intake can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, causing fatigue, pallor, delayed growth, and impaired learning. Young children are especially at risk due to rapid growth and high iron requirements, combined with diets low in iron-rich foods such as meat, beans, and fortified cereals.
C. Folate (vitamin B9) deficiency can occur, especially in pregnant women, and may lead to anemia and neural tube defects in the fetus, but it is less common in young children than iron deficiency.
D. Vitamin C deficiency, which can cause scurvy, is rare in young children today because most diets include sufficient fruits and vegetables. While important for collagen synthesis and immune function, vitamin C deficiency is not the most common nutrient deficiency in this age group.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a form of hemoglobin bound to glucose, used as a marker of long-term blood sugar control in diabetes. It is not an energy molecule produced by cells.
B. Saturated fatty acids are a type of dietary fat or stored fat in the body. While they can be broken down to produce energy, they are not the direct energy currency within the cell.
C. Hydrogen phosphate is an ion involved in cellular chemistry and pH buffering, but it is not the main energy molecule for cellular processes.
D. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy currency of the cell. Cells convert glucose through glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, or fatty acids through beta-oxidation and the Krebs cycle, into ATP. ATP stores energy in its high-energy phosphate bonds and releases it to power cellular processes such as muscle contraction, nerve transmission, active transport, and biosynthesis of macromolecules.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While iron plays a role in certain enzymatic reactions in the body, its primary function is not directly related to nervous system function. Nervous system health depends on other nutrients like B vitamins, particularly B12.
B. Iron is essential for oxygen transport in the body. It is a key component of hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle cells. Hemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues throughout the body, while myoglobin stores and delivers oxygen within muscle cells, supporting energy production during physical activity. Adequate iron is critical for endurance, performance, and preventing fatigue. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, decreased oxygen-carrying capacity, and impaired physical performance.
C. Iron is not directly used to generate energy from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are metabolized via glycolysis and the Krebs cycle to produce ATP, but iron’s role is indirect, mainly as a component of hemoglobin and iron-containing enzymes that support oxidative metabolism.
D. While iron deficiency can indirectly affect blood oxygenation and overall cardiovascular function, iron does not directly maintain blood volume or blood pressure. Blood volume is regulated by water balance and electrolytes, while blood pressure depends on vascular resistance, cardiac output, and fluid status.
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