A malnourished patient with chronic alcoholism develops poor wound healing with defective collagen fiber formation after an abdominal operation. Deficiency of which micronutrient impairs hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues in procollagen?

• A Zinc
• B Vitamin A
• C Iron
• D Vitamin C ✓

Explanation

Ascorbic acid is the cofactor for prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases; without hydroxylation, procollagen chains cannot form a stable triple helix, producing weak collagen and impaired healing, as in scurvy. Zinc deficiency also impairs healing through its role in collagen synthesis, but the hydroxylation step described here specifically requires vitamin C.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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