Final answer:
Nutrient types match their descriptions: water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C), fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), major minerals (like calcium and potassium), and trace minerals (like iron and zinc). Each has a distinct functional role in the body, with some vitamins needing daily replenishment due to their water solubility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked to match each nutrient type to its respective description. Here is the correct match:
- a) Water-soluble vitamins - These include vitamins such as vitamin C and the B-vitamins; they are not stored in the body and therefore need to be replenished regularly through diet.
- b) Fat-soluble vitamins - Comprising vitamins A, D, E, and K, these are stored in the body's fatty tissue and liver, and are absorbed alongside fats in the diet.
- c) Major minerals - These are needed in larger amounts than trace minerals and include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur.
- d) Trace minerals - Required in smaller amounts, trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
To answer the student's question about water-soluble vitamins, vitamin C (choice d) is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamins are critical to a healthy diet for their role in maintaining normal physiological functions, and both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins have distinct functional roles in the body.