To help reduce the risk for neural tube defects, the nurse recommends the expectant mother should eat which foods high in folic acid?

A. Vitamin E is present in breast milk at levels generally sufficient for healthy, full-term infants. It functions as an antioxidant, protecting cell membranes from oxidative damage. Deficiency is very rare in breastfed infants unless there is a fat malabsorption disorder or premature birth with very low birth weight, as these conditions limit fat-soluble vitamin absorption. Therefore, routine supplementation is not required for most term infants.

B. Vitamin C is water-soluble and abundant in breast milk when the lactating mother has an adequate diet. It supports collagen formation, immune function, and antioxidant activity. Deficiency in breastfed infants is uncommon unless the mother’s intake is severely inadequate, which is rare in most populations.

C. Calcium is a critical mineral for bone and teeth development, and breast milk generally contains sufficient calcium to meet the needs of full-term infants. The infant’s calcium requirements are met even if maternal intake is moderate because the mammary gland actively regulates calcium content in milk. Deficiency in calcium is therefore not a common concern in healthy, exclusively breastfed infants.

D. Vitamin D is naturally present in breast milk in very low amounts, insufficient to meet the infant’s needs, particularly if sunlight exposure is limited. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. Without supplementation, breastfed infants are at risk for rickets, delayed bone growth, and skeletal deformities. Health organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend daily vitamin D supplementation (typically 400 IU/day) for all exclusively breastfed infants.

A. Bone tissue is composed of osteocytes, which are mature bone cells embedded in a mineralized matrix. Osteocytes help maintain bone structure, regulate mineral content, and communicate with other bone cells to support bone remodeling and repair. Bone tissue provides structural support, protects vital organs, facilitates movement by serving as attachment sites for muscles, and stores minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.

B. Liver tissue is made up of hepatocytes, not osteocytes. The liver functions in metabolism, detoxification, and bile production, rather than providing structural support like bone tissue.

C. Lymph is a fluid tissue composed of lymphocytes and other immune cells, not osteocytes. It plays a role in immune defense and fluid balance, not skeletal support.

D. Blood is a connective tissue composed of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets suspended in plasma. It does not contain osteocytes and functions primarily in transport of oxygen, nutrients, waste, and immune cells.