Main function of Vitamin C in the body is?

OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Explanation

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a potent water-soluble antioxidant that neutralizes harmful free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative stress.
As an antioxidant, it is involved in intracellular electron transfer and helps regenerate other antioxidants like Vitamin E.
This antioxidant activity is fundamental to its role in preventing chronic diseases and supporting overall immune health.

Option A: The primary role of being a coenzyme for energy metabolism belongs to the B-complex vitamins, such as Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), and Niacin (B3).
Option B: Vitamin C is not a primary regulator of lipid synthesis. This complex process is mainly controlled by hormones like insulin and involves other metabolic pathways where vitamins like Pantothenic acid (B5) play a role.
Option D: Vitamin C is essential for cell growth and tissue repair, primarily through its role in collagen synthesis. It does not inhibit cell growth; rather, it promotes the health and integrity of tissues.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Primary physiological role of Vitamin C as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses educate patients on the importance of a diet rich in Vitamin C (e.g., citrus fruits, amla, guava, green leafy vegetables) to support wound healing, especially after surgery or trauma.
When administering iron supplements, nurses often advise patients to take them with a source of Vitamin C, like orange juice, to maximize iron absorption and prevent anemia.
What if? A patient on a very restricted diet (e.g., an elderly person living alone or an individual with an alcohol use disorder) presents with fatigue, swollen gums, and easy bruising. The nurse should recognize these as potential signs of scurvy and report them, anticipating a need for dietary assessment and Vitamin C supplementation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which asks for the 'main function' of Vitamin C. This implies choosing the most significant role among the options.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of vitamin biochemistry.
Recall that B-vitamins are the primary coenzymes for energy metabolism. This eliminates 'Coenzyme for energy metabolism'.
Consider 'Involvement as antioxidant'. This is a widely recognized and crucial function of Vitamin C, protecting cells from damage.
Analyze 'Regulation of lipid synthesis' and 'Inhibition of cell growth'. Neither of these is a known primary function of Vitamin C. In fact, Vitamin C promotes healthy tissue growth.
Conclude that its role as an antioxidant is the most accurate and primary function listed among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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