Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Which nutrient is essential for clotting and is also important in enzymatic reactions?

1. Calcium.

2. Iron.

3. Magnesium.

4. Potassium.

The correct answer is: Calcium.

Calcium is fundamental for several physiological processes, one of the most critical being blood coagulation. It acts as a cofactor in the clotting cascade, which is a series of biochemical reactions necessary for the formation of blood clots. Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) play a key role in various steps of this cascade, such as enhancing the activity of clotting factors, which are proteins that help stop bleeding. In addition to its role in clotting, calcium is also vital in many enzymatic reactions throughout the body. It functions as a signaling molecule, activating specific enzymes that are crucial for metabolic processes, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and other essential physiological functions. The presence of calcium is required for the optimal activity of several enzymes, making it indispensable not only for clotting but also for broader biological functions. Other nutrients listed, such as iron, magnesium, and potassium, serve important roles in the body but do not share the same dual functionality of being directly involved in the clotting process and participating in enzymatic reactions to the extent that calcium does. Iron is primarily known for its role in oxygen transport in hemoglobin, magnesium is important for enzyme function but is not essential for coagulation, and potassium plays a key role in maintaining fluid