Question

Nutrients can be classified as essential or nonessential. All of the following are reasons why a nutrient could be considered an essential nutrient except?

1) vitamin C is essential because without sufficient vitamin C, the nutrient deficiency disease scurvy can occur.
2) iron is essential because it promotes transport of oxygen to cells in the body.
3) vitamin A is essential because consuming too much supplemental vitamin A during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
4) vitamin D is essential because if a child with insufficient vitamin D intake eventually receives high doses of vitamin D, permanent damage from the vitamin D deficiency disease rickets can be avoided.

Answer 1

An essential nutrient is one that cannot be synthesized by the body in adequate quantities and must be ingested through diet, rather than a nutrient whose excess can cause toxicity. Therefore, option 3 is incorrect as it relates to toxicity instead of essentiality.

Step-by-step explanation:

Nutrients can be classified as essential or nonessential. The statement that a nutrient could be considered essential due to the potential for toxicity or adverse effects from excess consumption (as in the case of vitamin A during pregnancy), is incorrect. Essential nutrients are those that cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient amounts and must be obtained from food because they are necessary for proper body function.

Key points about essential nutrients include:

• Vitamin C is essential to prevent scurvy.
• Iron is essential as it helps in the transport of oxygen to cells.
• Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, but its overconsumption does not define its essentiality.

The correct statement that does not elaborate on why a nutrient is essential is: "3) vitamin A is essential because consuming too much supplemental vitamin A during pregnancy can cause birth defects." This concerns toxicity, not the definition of an essential nutrient.