All are true regarding Vitamin A EXCEPT

JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Medium

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Explanation

The statement that Vitamin A supplementation reduces the morbidity of diarrhea is incorrect, making it the answer to this 'EXCEPT' question.
While Vitamin A is vital for immune function and maintaining the integrity of the gut lining, its primary benefit in diarrhea is reducing mortality (death rates), not morbidity (incidence, duration, or severity).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies specifically recommend Zinc supplementation to reduce the morbidity of acute diarrhea in children.
Vitamin A deficiency does increase the risk of death from diarrhea, and supplementation can reduce this risk, but the question specifically asks about morbidity.

Option A: This is a true statement. Green leafy vegetables are a primary source of beta-carotene, a provitamin A carotenoid that the body converts to active Vitamin A.
Option B: This is a true statement. High doses of preformed Vitamin A (retinol) are well-documented teratogens, causing congenital malformations if taken in excess during pregnancy.
Option C: This is a true statement. Vitamin A supplementation is a key public health intervention that significantly reduces mortality rates in children with measles by preventing severe complications.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Properties and clinical applications of Vitamin A as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a critical role in nutritional counseling and health education. It is essential to differentiate the roles of various micronutrients.
A nurse must advise pregnant women to avoid excessive Vitamin A supplements (above the recommended daily allowance) due to the risk of birth defects, while still encouraging a diet rich in beta-carotene from vegetables.
In pediatric care, nurses administer Vitamin A during measles cases and as part of national immunization programs. They also educate caregivers about the importance of ORS and Zinc for managing diarrhea.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify that this is an 'EXCEPT' question. This means you are looking for the statement that is FALSE.
Read the stem carefully: 'All are true regarding Vitamin A EXCEPT'.
Evaluate each option independently to determine if it is a true or false statement about Vitamin A.
Option A: Recall or look up dietary sources of Vitamin A. Green leafy vegetables are a known source of its precursor. This is likely true.
Option B: Recall or look up the safety of vitamins in pregnancy. Vitamin A is a known teratogen in high doses. This is likely true.
Option C: Recall or look up public health interventions for measles. Vitamin A supplementation is a standard, effective treatment to reduce measles mortality. This is likely true.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Properties and clinical applications of Vitamin A
Stem keywords: Vitamin A, true, EXCEPT
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: This is a negative-lead-in question requiring you to identify the FALSE statement.

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