Which nutrient is not found in eggs?

RRB Staff Nurse Delhi-2015

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Delhi-2015

Explanation

Eggs are a unique animal food source that contains almost all essential nutrients except for Vitamin C.
They also contain only trace amounts of carbohydrates (0.2-0.6g per egg), making them practically a carbohydrate-free food in dietary planning.
Therefore, the combination of 'Carbohydrate and Vitamin - C' correctly identifies the nutrients not found in significant amounts in eggs.

Option B: This option is incorrect because eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein and also contain calcium.
Option C: This option is incorrect because the egg yolk is rich in fat and is one of the few natural food sources of Vitamin D.
Option D: This option is incorrect because eggs are a benchmark for protein quality and the yolk contains a good amount of iron.

Visual 1: Infographic - A visual breakdown of the macronutrients (protein, fat, carbs) and key micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) present in a standard large egg, highlighting the absence of Vitamin C and negligible carbohydrates.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional composition of common foods as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses advise patients on diet based on their health conditions. Knowing that eggs are a high-protein, low-carb food is crucial for dietary planning for patients with diabetes or those on ketogenic diets.
For patients with iron-deficiency anemia, eggs can be recommended as a source of iron. However, since eggs lack Vitamin C, nurses should advise consuming them with a source of Vitamin C (like orange juice or bell peppers) to enhance iron absorption.
What if a patient needs a complete protein source but has a Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)? The nurse would recommend eggs for protein but must strongly advise including citrus fruits, amla, or other Vitamin C-rich foods in the diet to address the deficiency.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question, which asks for nutrients not found in eggs. This is a negative-framing recall question.
Recall the basic nutritional profile of an egg. It is widely known as a primary source of protein and fat.
This knowledge helps to evaluate the options. Options containing 'Protein' or 'Fat' list nutrients that are present in eggs, making them incorrect choices for a question asking what is 'not found'.
Evaluate Option A: 'Carbohydrate and Vitamin - C'. It is a key nutritional fact that eggs are practically devoid of carbohydrates and completely lack Vitamin C. This makes it a very strong candidate.
Systematically check the other options (B, C, D). All of them list 'Protein' or 'Fat', which are definitely in eggs. Eggs also contain calcium, iron, and Vitamin D. Therefore, these options list nutrients that are found in eggs.
Conclude that the only pair of nutrients effectively absent from eggs is Carbohydrate and Vitamin C.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional composition of common foods
Stem keywords: nutrient, not found, eggs
Lead-in keywords: Which, not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the nutrients that are absent from eggs.

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