Final answer:
The false statement concerning chronic disease mechanisms is that essential nutrients can be synthesized by the body, which is untrue as they must be obtained through diet, including vitamins acting as coenzymes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the mechanisms of chronic disease that is NOT true is that essential nutrients can be synthesized by the body. Essential nutrients are compounds that the body cannot make in sufficient quantity and must be obtained from the diet. These nutrients include certain amino acids, fatty acids, most vitamins, and minerals. Among such essentials are the vitamins, which act as coenzymes for various enzymatic reactions within the body.
For example, water soluble vitamins, such as those in the B-complex group and vitamin C, are vital as coenzymes in metabolism. The body also requires fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin K, for the production of clotting factors essential for blood coagulation. Also, intermediate risk factors such as hypertension can be influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors including diet and physical inactivity, which are modifiable and can therefore reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease.