By definition, a vitamin is all of the following except:
a) needed in very small amounts
b) an energy/calories providing nutrient
c) required to prevent deficiency diseases
d) essential nutrient
e) required for normal body function
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is b) an energy/calories providing nutrient.
Explanation:
Vitamins are a group of essential nutrients that are required in small amounts for various physiological functions, but they do not provide energy or calories. The key characteristics of vitamins can be explained as follows:
- Needed in very small amounts (a): Vitamins are required by the body in relatively small quantities, often measured in micrograms or milligrams. Despite their small quantities, they are crucial for health, playing vital roles in metabolism, immune function, and tissue repair, among other functions.
- An energy/calories providing nutrient (b): This statement is incorrect. While macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats provide energy (calories), vitamins do not. Vitamins support metabolic processes but do not contribute directly to energy production. Their role is primarily in supporting enzymes and metabolic pathways that enable the body to convert food into energy, but they themselves do not provide calories.
- Required to prevent deficiency diseases (c): This is true. Each vitamin has a specific function in the body, and a deficiency in any of them can lead to specific health issues. For example, a lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, while insufficient vitamin D can result in rickets or osteomalacia.
- Essential nutrient (d): This is also correct. Vitamins are considered essential nutrients because the body cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities (or at all), so they must be obtained from the diet.
- Required for normal body function (e): Vitamins are necessary for normal body functions such as immune response, energy production, and the maintenance of healthy skin, bones, and blood. Without adequate vitamins, the body would not function optimally.
In summary, while vitamins are essential for health and metabolism, they do not provide calories or energy directly, making option “b” the exception.
