Which vitamin helps absorb calcium and supports bone formation and growth in children?

• A. Vitamin K
• B. Vitamin D
• C. Vitamin B6
• D. Vitamin C

Answer: (B)

Vitamin D supports calcium absorption and bone growth in children. It helps the intestines absorb calcium (and phosphate), providing the minerals needed to mineralize bone. In growing kids, adequate vitamin D is essential for proper bone formation and normal growth; a deficiency can lead to soft bones or rickets. Sunlight on the skin helps the body make vitamin D, and it can also be obtained from foods like fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and egg yolks.

Other vitamins contribute to bone health in different ways, but they don’t boost calcium absorption the way vitamin D does. Vitamin K supports bone protein activity, vitamin C helps form the collagen matrix of bone, and vitamin B6 is involved in general metabolism rather than directly promoting bone mineralization.