Chapter 6 Water and Minerals

The nurse is teaching a nutrition class at the local high school. The subject for today is calcium. What is a good source of dietary calcium to teach the class? A) Fortified orange juice B) Organ meats C) Egg yolks D) Potatoes

Ans: A Feedback: Besides dairy products, calcium is also found in bok choy, broccoli, Chinese/Napa cabbage, collards, kale, okra, turnip greens, fortified breakfast cereal, fortified orange juice, legumes, fortified soy milk, and almonds.

The health class asks the nurse what mineral is the most abundant in the body. What would the correct response be? A) Calcium B) Phosphorus C) Magnesium D) Iron

Ans: A Feedback: Calcium is the most plentiful mineral in the body, making up about half of the body's total mineral content. Almost all of the body's calcium is found in the bones and teeth.

When properly preparing food, the client must be cognizant that vitamins and minerals differ in that minerals are what? A) Not destroyed by heat and light B) Are destroyed by heat and light C) Released from foods only by cooking D) Need to be supplemented in the diet because they are destroyed by cooking

Ans: A Feedback: Unlike vitamins, minerals are not destroyed by light, air, heat, or acids during food preparation. Minerals are lost only when foods are soaked in water.

Children sometimes get mottled tooth enamel because they ingest more fluoride than is recommended while their teeth are forming. What causes this? A) Fluoridated toothpaste B) Fluoride supplements C) Drinking water D) Fluoride in foods

Ans: A Feedback: Children under the age of 8 years are susceptible to mottled teeth enamel if excessive amounts of fluoride are ingested. The swallowing of fluoridated toothpaste has been blamed.

The nurse is admitting a client onto the unit with a diagnosis of manganese toxicity. What symptoms would be expected in this client? A) Tremors B) Flexibility C) Unaltered gait D) Tetany

Ans: A Feedback: Manganese toxicity is an occupational hazard for miners who inhale manganese dust, leading to central nervous system abnormalities with symptoms similar to parkinsonism.

The class is discussing the various elements that are essential for life. Water is a vital element for the human body. What is one of its functions? A) Serves as a solvent for vitamins and glucose B) Prepares nutrients for transportation to cells C) Makes cell walls without shape and structure D) Provides energy

Ans: A Feedback: Water occupies essentially every space within and between body cells and is involved in virtually every body function, to include serves as a solvent for vitamins, minerals, glucose, and amino acids; provides shape and structure to cells; regulates body temperature; aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients; and transports nutrients and oxygen to cells.

The nurse is teaching the high school health class the benefit of drinking milk because it is known that a chronically low intake of calcium can do what? A) Cause low blood calcium levels B) Compromise bone integrity C) Cause tetany D) Impair protein synthesis

Ans: B Feedback: A chronically low calcium intake compromises bone integrity without affecting blood calcium levels.

Normally about 60% of natural phosphorus from food sources is absorbed, but absorption of phosphorus from food preservatives (e.g., phosphoric acid) is almost 100%. Phosphorus deficiency is not a problem in the United States because of what? A) Phosphorus is added to foods because there are few good natural sources. B) Phosphorus is pervasive in the food supply. C) Phosphorus is found only in animal products. D) Phosphorus is found only in plant products.

Ans: B Feedback: Animal proteins, dairy products, legumes are rich natural sources of phosphorus. Soft drinks contain phosphoric acid. Phosphate additives—which are often added to commercially prepared foods to extend shelf life, improve taste, improve texture, or retain moisture—can be significant sources of phosphorus.

The client is being evaluated for dehydration. The nurse is aware that several conditions increase the loss of fluid from the body. What is one of the conditions that might increase the fluid loss? A) Thirst B) Strenuous exercise C) Congestive heart failure D) Controlled diabetes

Ans: B Feedback: Extreme environmental temperatures (very hot or very cold), high altitude, low humidity, and strenuous exercise increase insensible water losses from respirations and the skin.

Many people throughout the world are practicing vegetarians. Their diet is rich in fruits and vegetables so it is also likely to be rich in which mineral? A) Sodium B) Potassium C) Iron D) Iodine

Ans: B Feedback: Potassium is naturally present in most foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, milk, and yogurt.

A client has been told to monitor his sodium intake. What is the Upper Limit (UL) set for adults for sodium Adequate Intake (AI)? A) 1700 mg B) 2300 mg C) 2500 mg D) 3000 mg

Ans: B Feedback: The Upper Limit set for adults for sodium intake is 2300 mg.

The nurse is conducting client education with a group of clients newly diagnosed with hypertension. While discussing sodium and its actions in the body, the nurse teaches that a healthy body maintains sodium balance by adjusting the amount of sodium in what manner? A) Absorbed B) Excreted in the urine C) Excreted in the feces D) Deposited on bones

Ans: B Feedback: The only way the body can rid itself of excess sodium is to increase urinary sodium excretion. For most people, the higher the intake of sodium, the greater is the amount of sodium excreted in the urine.

Trace minerals in the body, although small in quantity, play large roles in its functioning. Trace minerals have been hard to study because of what factor? A) Food composition data are not necessary for all trace minerals. B) Bioavailability varies within the context of the total diet. C) The comparability of trace mineral content of foods is high. D) Reliable and valid indicators of trace element status are readily available.

Ans: B Feedback: Various factors complicate the study of trace minerals. They include high variability of trace mineral content, food composition data are not available for all trace minerals, bioavailability varies within the context of the total diet, and reliable and valid indicators of trace elements status are not available.

While discussing the various chemical properties of nutrients in the body, the class discusses the differences between anions and cations. What mineral is the major anion in the extracellular fluid? A) Calcium B) Chloride C) Chromium D) Choline

Ans: B Feedback: Chloride is the major anion in the extracellular fluid, where it helps to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in conjunction with sodium.

The nurse is assessing a new client who is being admitted due to possible mineral toxicities. Mineral toxicities can occur for various reasons. Which of the following is one of those reasons? A) Unbalanced choice of foods B) Excessive use of mineral supplements C) Normal body metabolism D) Home-processed foods

Ans: B Feedback: Mineral toxicity is related to excessive use of mineral supplements, environmental or industrial exposure, human errors in commercial food processing, or alternations in metabolism.

The nurse is caring for a client with a severe protein deficiency. What other deficiency would the nurse expect to find in this client? A) Selenium B) Sulfur C) Chromium D) Molybdenum

Ans: B Feedback: The major source of inorganic sulfate is body protein turnover of methionine and cysteine. The need for sulfur is met when the intake of sulfur amino acids is adequate. A sulfur deficiency is likely only when protein deficiency is severe.

The nutrition class is discussing how some nutrients are necessary for various chemical substances in the body. What is an essential component of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)? A) Iron B) Iodine C) Zinc D) Selenium

Ans: B Feedback: Iodine is an essential component of T3 and T4, the thyroid hormones responsible for regulating metabolic rate, body temperature, reproduction, growth, the synthesis of blood cells, and nerve and muscle function.

The nurse is teaching a high school health class, and the subject for today is calcium. What would the nurse teach the students to eat to promote the absorption of calcium? A) Protein B) Fiber C) Lactose D) Fat

Ans: C Feedback: Milk is a "nearly perfect" source because it contains vitamin D and lactose, which promote calcium absorption.

The nutrition class is learning that maintaining homeostasis is a function of the body. Which statement is true regarding homeostasis and minerals? A) For some minerals, the body maintains homeostasis by altering the mineral absorbed. B) For some minerals, the body maintains homeostasis by altering the mineral excreted. C) For some minerals, the body maintains homeostasis by releasing minerals from storage for redistribution. D) For some minerals, the body maintains homeostasis by using one mineral in place of another.

Ans: C Feedback: The body has several mechanisms by which it maintains mineral balance. It may release minerals from storage for redistribution. The body may also alter the rate of absorption or excretion.

While discussing nutrition with the group of clients, the nurse explains that some vitamins and minerals work together. What trace element is an essential component of vitamin B12? A) Nickel B) Selenium C) Cobalt D) Molybdenum

Ans: C Feedback: Cobalt is an essential component of vitamin B12.

The nurse is aware that the production of pale yellow urine is assumed to be a reliable indicator of adequate fluid intake. However, in some populations the sensation of thirst comes after significant fluid loss. In which population is this a factor? A) Teenagers B) Middle-aged adults C) The elderly D) The obese

Ans: C Feedback: In healthy adults, thirst is usually a reliable indicator of water need, and output of pale yellow urine indicates intake is adequate. For some, the sensation of thirst is blunted and not a reliable indicator of need. For the elderly and children, and during hot weather or strenuous exercise, drinking fluids should not be delayed because fluid loss may be significant.

The nutrition class is learning about minerals. What is a characteristic of minerals that the class should know? A) Minerals are easily destroyed by light, air, heat, and acids. B) Minerals are digested primarily in the small intestine. C) Minerals originate from the earth's crust. D) Minerals are broken down and rearranged during metabolism.

Ans: C Feedback: Minerals are inorganic elements that originate from the earth's crust, not from plants or animals. Minerals do not undergo digestion nor are they broken down or rearranged during metabolism. They may combine with other elements or organic compounds, but they will still retain their chemical identities.

The nurse is admitting a healthy 35-year-old woman to the outpatient surgery department for the removal of a plantar wart. She consumes approximately 2000 cal/day. What is her recommended intake of water? A) 1000 mL of fluid per day B) 1500 mL of fluid per day C) 2000 mL of fluid per day D) 2500 mL of fluid per day

Ans: C Feedback: There are three methods to estimate fluid needs. When the amount of calories per day is known, then the method of 1 mL/cal consumed can be used. Because this client consumes 2000 cal/day, 2000 cal/day × 1 mL/cal = 2000 mL/day.

Water is vital to the human body and needs to be consumed daily. As vital as water is, most people get most of their fluid intake by ingesting other beverages. What value might the other beverages have? A) They are more beneficial to the body than water. B) They are complete sources of fluids for the body. C) They provide no beneficial caloric intake to the body. D) They may provide phytochemicals to the body.

Ans: D Feedback: Although naturally calorie-free plain water could be used to completely satisfy fluid needs, other beverages have value in that they may provide nutrients, phytochemicals, and interest to the diet.

While teaching a nutrition class, the nurse discusses the largest source of sodium in the typical American diet. What is it? A) Salt added during cooking B) Salt added at the table C) Foods naturally high in salt D) Processed foods

Ans: D Feedback: Approximately 75% of sodium consumed in the average American diet is from processed food. Virtually all Americans consume more than the UL for sodium.

Antioxidants disarm free radicals produced during normal oxygen metabolism. Which mineral is a component of an enzyme that acts as an antioxidant? A) Iron B) Iodine C) Zinc D) Selenium

Ans: D Feedback: Selenium is a component of a group of enzymes, called glutathione peroxidases, that function as antioxidants to disarm free radicals produced during normal oxygen metabolism.

Sodium is a necessary nutrient and the major extracellular cation in the body. What is one of its functions? A) Cardiac stability B) Muscular stability C) Immune system functioning D) Nerve impulse transmission

Ans: D Feedback: Sodium is largely responsible for regulating fluid balance. It also regulates cell permeability and the movement of fluid, electrolytes, glucose, insulin, and amino acids. Sodium is pivotal in acid-base balance, nerve transmission, and muscular irritability.

The nurse is aware that magnesium deficiency is a potential nutritional problem in the United States. What is the cause of this potential problem? A) Low intake of milk and dairy products B) Not eating enough citrus fruits in our diet C) Not drinking enough enriched orange juice D) The use of refined grains over whole grains

Ans: D Feedback: A low magnesium intake is related to the intake of refined grains over whole-grain breads and cereals because magnesium is lost during the refining process and not replaced.

Copper is used by the body in hemoglobin synthesis, collagen formation, wound healing, and maintenance of nerve fibers. What mineral has the potential to cause a deficiency of copper in the body? A) Iron B) Chromium C) Molybdenum D) Zinc

Ans: D Feedback: Excess zinc intake has the potential to induce copper deficiency by impairing its absorption.

Bottled water is high on the list of purchases made by American consumers. The nurse is aware that children who drink bottled water might need what? A) Chlorine supplement B) Magnesium supplement C) Iron supplement D) Fluoride supplement

Ans: D Feedback: Fluoride promotes the mineralization of developing tooth enamel prior to both eruption and the remineralization of surface enamel in erupted teeth. Studies show that water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by approximately 25% over a person's lifetime. Bottled water may not be fluoridated.