Highest source of vitamin D is?

Appeared in: BSF Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Fish liver oil is the most concentrated dietary source of preformed Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) among the choices.
Sources like cod liver oil and halibut liver oil contain thousands of International Units (IU) of Vitamin D per serving.
Vitamin D from food is crucial, especially in regions with limited sun exposure or for individuals with absorption issues.

Option B: Lemon is a well-known source of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), not Vitamin D. It contains negligible amounts of fat-soluble vitamins.
Option C: Amla (Indian Gooseberry) is one of the richest natural sources of Vitamin C. It is not a source of Vitamin D.
Option D: Soybean is a legume valued for its protein and isoflavone content. It does not naturally contain significant amounts of Vitamin D, although some soy products like soy milk may be fortified with it.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary Sources of Vitamins as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must educate patients on the importance of Vitamin D for bone health, especially in at-risk populations like the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
Assessing dietary intake and sun exposure is a key part of a nutritional assessment to identify risks for Vitamin D deficiency.
What if? If a patient is a strict vegetarian (vegan), they cannot consume fish liver oil. In this case, a nurse would recommend fortified foods (like fortified plant milks and cereals) and controlled sun exposure or a plant-based Vitamin D supplement (Vitamin D2 or lichen-derived D3).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is to find the 'highest source' of a specific nutrient, 'Vitamin D'.
Recall the major food sources for common vitamins. Remember that Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found primarily in fatty fish, liver, and fortified foods.
Evaluate each option against this knowledge.
Compare the options: Fish liver oil is a direct, concentrated source. Lemon and Amla are famous for Vitamin C. Soybean is a protein source.
Conclude that fish liver oil is the most potent source of Vitamin D among the given choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 130-132

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 152-154

Practise the full BSF Staff Nurse - 2021

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.