How Much Do You Know About Vitamins?
Sometimes it's hard to keep your vitamin facts straight. How much vitamin A do you need? What's the best source of Vitamin C? And all those B vitamins—which one is which?
Here's a quiz that offers a chance to learn something different, but not necessarily trivial, about vitamins.
1. If you live above the 45th parallel, you are likely to be deficient in which vitamin?
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Vitamin D is created by your body when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light. In areas north of the 45th parallel, the climate is cooler, days are shorter, and winters are longer—all factors leading to a decreased exposure to sunlight. (In North America, this is all of Canada and the northern-most areas of the United States: Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, much of Minnesota, northern Michigan, northern New England, and Alaska.) Several studies have shown that some people living north of the 45th parallel have low serum levels of vitamin D. Another study suggested that even a multiple vitamin with 400 units of vitamin D may not be sufficient to overcome this deficiency; 800 units may be more appropriate if you live this far north. A vitamin D deficiency develops over the long term; the effects are not immediate.
4. Which vitamin can cause birth defects if too little is in the diet?
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Folic acid deficiency can lead to a birth defect called spina bifida, the abnormal development of back bones, spinal cord, surrounding nerves, and the sac that surrounds the spinal cord. Folic acid, or vitamin B9, is a nutrient found in some leafy green vegetables, nuts, beans, citrus fruits, and fortified breakfast cereals. Although many factors contribute to the development of spina bifida, research has found that folic acid can help reduce the risk for neural tube defects. For this reason, the American College of Medical Genetics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all women of childbearing age take a multivitamin containing folic acid. If a couple has had a previous child with an open neural tube defect, a larger amount of folic acid is recommended and can be prescribed by a health care provider. Talk with your health care provider to find out more about folic acid.
8. In the United States, the person most likely to develop scurvy (vitamin C deficiency) is:
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Alcoholics may be deficient in many nutritional areas, including a severe thiamin deficiency, vitamin C deficiency, inadequate protein intake, and insufficient calories. Other risk factors for scurvy are mental disorders, social isolation among the elderly and eating disorders. Because of food is abundant in the United States and much of it is "fortified" with vitamin C, even otherwise malnourished children are not likely to develop scurvy.
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