WGU NUTRITION D440 EXAM PLUS A COMPLETED STUDY GUIDE
2025/2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
For optimal bone health, which vitamin and mineral are known to work together synergistically
for absorption and metabolism?
A) Vitamin C and Iron
B) Sodium and Potassium
C) Calcium and Vitamin D
D) Zinc and Vitamin A
E) Magnesium and Vitamin K
Correct Answer: C) Calcium and Vitamin D
Rationale: Calcium and Vitamin D work together; Vitamin D is essential for the body to
absorb and utilize calcium effectively to build and maintain strong bones.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient with a suspected calcium deficiency. Which of the following
clinical signs would be consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Goiter
B) Scurvy
C) Trousseau's sign
D) Night blindness
E) Ataxia and tremors
Correct Answer: C) Trousseau's sign
Rationale: Calcium deficiency can lead to neuromuscular irritability, which can be
identified by signs such as Chvostek's sign and Trousseau's sign. Other conditions caused
by calcium deficiency include rickets and osteoporosis.
Question 3
A patient has been advised to increase their dietary intake of phosphorus. Which of the following
foods would be the best recommendation?
A) Citrus fruits
B) Dark green leafy vegetables
,C) Enriched grains and cereals
D) High-protein foods like milk, yogurt, and meat
E) Nuts and seeds
Correct Answer: D) High-protein foods like milk, yogurt, and meat
Rationale: Phosphorus is abundant in high-protein foods. Good sources include milk,
yogurt, cheese, eggs, meat, and fish.
Question 4
A patient's lab results show a high sodium level. The nurse would anticipate that the patient's
potassium level would likely be:
A) High
B) Low
C) Unchanged
D) Equal to the sodium level
E) Irrelevant to the sodium level
Correct Answer: B) Low
Rationale: There is an inverse relationship between sodium and potassium in the body.
Typically, a high sodium level is associated with a low potassium level.
Question 5
A patient is placed on a low-sodium diet. Which of the following foods is a good source of
potassium that they could be encouraged to eat?
A) Canned soup
B) Processed deli meat
C) Sweet potatoes
D) Pickles and olives
E) Salad dressing
Correct Answer: C) Sweet potatoes
Rationale: Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of potassium. Other good sources include
bananas, oranges, spinach, and avocados. Processed foods, condiments, and deli meats are
high in sodium.
,Question 6
A nurse is providing dietary education to a patient with hyponatremia (low sodium). This
condition is commonly seen in patients with which of the following?
A) Crohn's disease
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Gout
D) Heart failure
E) Celiac disease
Correct Answer: D) Heart failure
Rationale: Low sodium levels (hyponatremia) are often observed in patients with conditions
such as kidney disease, adrenal crisis, heart failure, or those taking diuretics.
Question 7
To enhance the absorption of iron from plant-based sources, which of the following should be
consumed with the meal?
A) A glass of milk
B) A serving of cheese
C) A glass of orange juice
D) A cup of coffee
E) A serving of whole grains
Correct Answer: C) A glass of orange juice
Rationale: Vitamin C significantly increases the absorption of non-heme iron (from plant
sources). Orange juice is rich in Vitamin C.
Question 8
A patient is looking for food sources high in folate (Vitamin B9). Which of the following would
be an excellent recommendation?
A) Pork loin
B) Salmon
C) Yogurt
D) Potatoes
E) Beef liver
, Correct Answer: C) Yogurt
Rationale: Good food sources for folate (Vitamin B9) include asparagus, spinach, orange
juice, legumes, and yogurt.
Question 9
A goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland, is a classic sign of a deficiency in which mineral?
A) Zinc
B) Iron
C) Iodine
D) Calcium
E) Magnesium
Correct Answer: C) Iodine
Rationale: Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production. A deficiency can lead to
conditions such as goiter, cretinism, and hypothyroidism.
Question 10
A patient wants to increase their intake of zinc. Which of the following food groups would be the
best source?
A) Citrus fruits
B) Dairy products
C) Seafood like oysters and crabs
D) Root vegetables
E) Enriched breads and pastas
Correct Answer: C) Seafood like oysters and crabs
Rationale: Zinc is abundant in seafood. Excellent sources include lobsters, oysters, and
crabs, as well as meat and whole grains.
Question 11
Vitamin A (retinol) is most famously associated with which physiological function?
A) Blood clotting
B) Bone formation
C) Vision
D) Collagen synthesis
2025/2026 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
ALREADY PASSED!!
Question 1
For optimal bone health, which vitamin and mineral are known to work together synergistically
for absorption and metabolism?
A) Vitamin C and Iron
B) Sodium and Potassium
C) Calcium and Vitamin D
D) Zinc and Vitamin A
E) Magnesium and Vitamin K
Correct Answer: C) Calcium and Vitamin D
Rationale: Calcium and Vitamin D work together; Vitamin D is essential for the body to
absorb and utilize calcium effectively to build and maintain strong bones.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient with a suspected calcium deficiency. Which of the following
clinical signs would be consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Goiter
B) Scurvy
C) Trousseau's sign
D) Night blindness
E) Ataxia and tremors
Correct Answer: C) Trousseau's sign
Rationale: Calcium deficiency can lead to neuromuscular irritability, which can be
identified by signs such as Chvostek's sign and Trousseau's sign. Other conditions caused
by calcium deficiency include rickets and osteoporosis.
Question 3
A patient has been advised to increase their dietary intake of phosphorus. Which of the following
foods would be the best recommendation?
A) Citrus fruits
B) Dark green leafy vegetables
,C) Enriched grains and cereals
D) High-protein foods like milk, yogurt, and meat
E) Nuts and seeds
Correct Answer: D) High-protein foods like milk, yogurt, and meat
Rationale: Phosphorus is abundant in high-protein foods. Good sources include milk,
yogurt, cheese, eggs, meat, and fish.
Question 4
A patient's lab results show a high sodium level. The nurse would anticipate that the patient's
potassium level would likely be:
A) High
B) Low
C) Unchanged
D) Equal to the sodium level
E) Irrelevant to the sodium level
Correct Answer: B) Low
Rationale: There is an inverse relationship between sodium and potassium in the body.
Typically, a high sodium level is associated with a low potassium level.
Question 5
A patient is placed on a low-sodium diet. Which of the following foods is a good source of
potassium that they could be encouraged to eat?
A) Canned soup
B) Processed deli meat
C) Sweet potatoes
D) Pickles and olives
E) Salad dressing
Correct Answer: C) Sweet potatoes
Rationale: Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of potassium. Other good sources include
bananas, oranges, spinach, and avocados. Processed foods, condiments, and deli meats are
high in sodium.
,Question 6
A nurse is providing dietary education to a patient with hyponatremia (low sodium). This
condition is commonly seen in patients with which of the following?
A) Crohn's disease
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Gout
D) Heart failure
E) Celiac disease
Correct Answer: D) Heart failure
Rationale: Low sodium levels (hyponatremia) are often observed in patients with conditions
such as kidney disease, adrenal crisis, heart failure, or those taking diuretics.
Question 7
To enhance the absorption of iron from plant-based sources, which of the following should be
consumed with the meal?
A) A glass of milk
B) A serving of cheese
C) A glass of orange juice
D) A cup of coffee
E) A serving of whole grains
Correct Answer: C) A glass of orange juice
Rationale: Vitamin C significantly increases the absorption of non-heme iron (from plant
sources). Orange juice is rich in Vitamin C.
Question 8
A patient is looking for food sources high in folate (Vitamin B9). Which of the following would
be an excellent recommendation?
A) Pork loin
B) Salmon
C) Yogurt
D) Potatoes
E) Beef liver
, Correct Answer: C) Yogurt
Rationale: Good food sources for folate (Vitamin B9) include asparagus, spinach, orange
juice, legumes, and yogurt.
Question 9
A goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland, is a classic sign of a deficiency in which mineral?
A) Zinc
B) Iron
C) Iodine
D) Calcium
E) Magnesium
Correct Answer: C) Iodine
Rationale: Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production. A deficiency can lead to
conditions such as goiter, cretinism, and hypothyroidism.
Question 10
A patient wants to increase their intake of zinc. Which of the following food groups would be the
best source?
A) Citrus fruits
B) Dairy products
C) Seafood like oysters and crabs
D) Root vegetables
E) Enriched breads and pastas
Correct Answer: C) Seafood like oysters and crabs
Rationale: Zinc is abundant in seafood. Excellent sources include lobsters, oysters, and
crabs, as well as meat and whole grains.
Question 11
Vitamin A (retinol) is most famously associated with which physiological function?
A) Blood clotting
B) Bone formation
C) Vision
D) Collagen synthesis
