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Question

Which of the following is not an essential micronutrient?


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Solution

Nutrients are compounds in food that provide energy, building blocks for growth and repair, and substances necessary to regulate chemical processes like development, respiration, etc.

Essential nutrients in the body are those nutrients whose deficiency in the body cannot be replaced by another nutrient.

Based on the quantity or amount of nutrients required by the body, they are divided into two categories:

  • Macronutrients - Required by the body in large amounts.
  • Micronutrients - Required by the body in small amounts.

Macronutrients mainly provide energy for body to carry out different functions (respiration, locomotion) and help to build up muscles and tissues. It includes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Micronutrients help to control the body processes, assist enzymes to catalyse metabolic reactions, help in neural transmission, synthesis of hormones, etc. They include minerals (calcium, iron, iodine, zinc etc.) and vitamins (vitamin C, A, D, E, K and B).

Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal whose intake in body leads to accumulation of cadmium in cells. This can cause itai-itai disease, characterised by severe pain, bone deformity and renal failure.

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient as it's deficiency can cause night blindness (inability to see well at night or in poor light).

Iodine is essential for the production of thyroxine hormone by throid gland. It's deficiency can lead to goitre (a swelling of the thyroid gland).

Zinc is required by the body for proper functioning of the immune system.


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