NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Foundational Knowledge and Basic ScienceEasy
A medical assistant is educating a patient about the importance of regular exercise and a balanced diet to prevent osteoporosis. Which of the following vitamins is crucial for calcium absorption and bone health?
- AVitamin B12
- BVitamin C
- CVitamin D
- DVitamin K
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium in the intestines and plays a critical role in bone mineralization and remodeling, thus being vital for preventing conditions like osteoporosis.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Vitamin B12 is vital for nerve function and red blood cell formation, not bone health or calcium absorption.
- B. Vitamin C is important for collagen formation and immune function, but not directly for calcium absorption.
- D. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone protein synthesis, but less directly involved in calcium absorption than Vitamin D.
Vitamin D and Bone Health
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin primarily responsible for regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body, essential for maintaining strong bones.
- Facilitates calcium absorption from the intestine.
- Regulates bone remodeling and mineralization.
- Deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in adults and rickets in children.
Memory trick: Bones Need Calcium, Vitamin D, and Exercise.