Which vitamin is mainly found in citrus fruits?

Appeared in: Bihar CHO - 2021

Explanation

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is the primary vitamin found in high concentrations in citrus fruits.
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are excellent dietary sources of this water-soluble vitamin.
The body requires a regular dietary intake of Vitamin C for essential functions such as immune support, collagen synthesis for wound healing, and acting as an antioxidant.
A deficiency in Vitamin C can lead to scurvy, a condition characterized by bleeding gums, poor wound healing, and fatigue.

Option A: Vitamin B refers to a complex of eight different vitamins. While some fruits contain B vitamins, their primary sources are whole grains, meat, eggs, legumes, and dairy products, not citrus fruits.
Option C: Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Its main sources are carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach (as beta-carotene), and animal products like liver and eggs (as retinol).
Option D: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin primarily synthesized by the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Dietary sources include fatty fish (like salmon), fortified milk, and egg yolks.

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 often advise patients on increasing their intake of Vitamin C-rich foods to promote wound healing, especially after surgery, due to its role in collagen synthesis.
In clinical practice, it's important to assess for signs of scurvy (e.g., bleeding gums, petechiae) in at-risk populations such as individuals with malnutrition, alcoholism, or highly restrictive diets.
What if? If a patient is a chronic smoker, their metabolic turnover of Vitamin C is higher. A nurse should recommend an increased daily intake (an additional 35 mg/day) to compensate for the oxidative stress and depletion caused by smoking.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'vitamin' and 'citrus fruits'.
This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of basic nutrition and food sources.
Mentally review the main vitamins and their most common food associations.
Evaluate the options provided. Vitamin C is famously and strongly associated with citrus fruits.
Consider the other options: Vitamin A is linked to carrots/vision, Vitamin D to sunlight/bones, and Vitamin B to grains/energy.
Conclude that Vitamin C is the most accurate answer for the vitamin predominantly found in citrus fruits.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QcbmNGMV71aayuQmone18u

E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 110-112

E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 1 (pp 26-420 of 840) p. 149-151

Practise the full Bihar CHO - 2021

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