Question

A patient consumes large amounts of fruits but no vegetables. Which nutrient might the nurse expect to be low in the patient's laboratory reports?

a. Vitamin C
b. Folate
c. Vitamin K
d. Potassium

Answer 1

The patient who consumes large amounts of fruits but no vegetables is most likely to be deficient in vitamin K, as it is not found in high quantities in fruits and is essential for blood clotting.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient consumes large amounts of fruits but no vegetables, it's possible that their nutrient levels may be imbalanced, especially regarding nutrients that are commonly more prevalent in vegetables than in fruits. In particular, vitamin K is one nutrient that might be low in the patient's laboratory reports. This is because vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting, is found in high amounts in green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale, which the patient is not consuming.

Vitamin C, on the other hand, is abundant in many fruits, so the patient would likely have sufficient levels. Potassium is also present in fruits such as bananas and oranges, so a deficiency is less expected. Folate could be a concern for some individuals relying solely on fruits as well, but many fruits contain folate and it is also possible to have adequate levels if a variety of fruits are consumed. Nonetheless, vitamin K would be the most likely nutrient to be low due to the absence of vegetables in the patient's diet.