Milk is not a good source of which of the following?

Appeared in: Haryana CHO - 2022

Explanation

Milk is widely recognized as being a poor source of iron.
Cow's milk contains only about 0.2 mg of iron per 100g, which is insufficient to meet daily requirements, especially for growing children.
Exclusive or excessive milk consumption in toddlers can lead to 'milk anemia' due to iron deficiency.
While rich in many nutrients, milk is also low in Vitamin C.

Option A: Milk is one of the best dietary sources of calcium, which is essential for bone health.
Option C: Whole milk is a good source of Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin important for vision and immunity.
Option D: Milk naturally contains sodium, an essential electrolyte for bodily functions.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional composition of milk as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses should educate parents about the risk of 'milk anemia' in toddlers who consume excessive amounts of milk (typically more than 24 ounces or ~700 mL per day) to the exclusion of iron-rich solid foods.
Dietary counseling for parents of infants over 6 months should include recommendations for introducing iron-fortified cereals, pureed meats, and other iron-rich foods.
What if? If a child presents with pallor, fatigue, and a history of high milk intake, a nurse should suspect iron-deficiency anemia and anticipate orders for a complete blood count (CBC) and iron studies.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword 'not' in the question. This indicates you are looking for the exception or the nutrient that is lacking.
Recall the general nutritional profile of milk. It is known for being high in calcium and protein.
Evaluate each option based on this knowledge.
Option A (Calcium): Milk is famous for its high calcium content, so this is incorrect.
Option B (Iron): Recall or deduce that while milk is nutritious, it has specific deficiencies. Iron is a well-known nutrient that is scarce in milk.
Option C (Vitamin A) and D (Sodium): While not as prominent as calcium, these are present in milk in reasonable amounts. Therefore, 'not a good source' most strongly applies to iron.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QNGGdg7mtoLd5-wrkJNCHO

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) pp. 164-166, 174-176

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 428-430

Practise the full Haryana CHO - 2022

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