Final answer:
The correct answer is a. Essential nutrients can be synthesized by the body. Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in very small quantities for the maintenance of normal metabolism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a. Essential nutrients can be synthesized by the body. Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in very small quantities for the maintenance of normal metabolism. They generally cannot be synthesized at adequate levels by the body and must be obtained from the diet. The absence or shortage of a vitamin may result in a vitamin-deficiency disease.