Questions and certified Answers 2026/2027
Hypokalemia (low potassium)
Dysrhythmias, muscle weakness, constipation/ileus, hypotension, weak pulses
Calcium
Electrolyte critical for bone/teeth formation, muscle/nerve function, and clotting
Sources: dairy, leafy greens like kale, broccoli, fish (sardines and salmon), fortified
foods (cereal)
Hypercalcemia (high calcium)
Kidney stones, gi upset, constipation, bone pain, muscle weakness, confusion
Hypocalcemia (low calcium)
Positive chvostek's (facial twitch) and trousseau's signs (spasm induced by blood
pressure cuff), muscle spasms, paresthesia (burning/prickling sensation.
Sodium
Electrolyte important for nerve/muscle function and fluid volume maintenance
Found in shellfish, meat, table salt, frozen and processed food, olives, deli meat,
canned foods, cheese, and vegetable juice.
Hypernatremia (high sodium)
Thirst, lethargy, confusion, gi upset, muscle twitching, seizures, irritability/agitation
Hyponatremia (low sodium)
Confusion (common in elderly), fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headache, seizure
, Vitamin d
Increases calcium absorption. Bone growth and remodeling, decreased inflammation
Found in sunlight, fatty fish like tuna and salmon, fish oil, and fortified foods like milk
and cereal
Vitamin d deficiency
Rickets (decreased bone density, developmental delay, seizures, skeletal deformity)
Osteomalacia (bone deformity, pain, seizures)
Low vitamin d can cause decreased bone density, bone deformity
Vitamin d toxicity
Hypercalcemia, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, dehydration
Protein
Wound healing
Found in seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, beans, soy products, nuts, seeds, dairy
Complete proteins
Egg, meat, cheese, meat, poultry, fish, soy
Foods that are high in cholesterol
Egg yolk, shellfish, organ meat, red meat, fried foods
Low-density lipoprotein (ldl)
Bad cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein (hdl)
Good cholesterol