American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) Practice Test

Vitamin C is recognized for its significant role as an antioxidant and is essential for maintaining skin health. This vitamin helps protect the skin from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can harm cells and promote aging. Additionally, vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis, a protein that provides structure to the skin, helping maintain its firmness and elasticity. This dual role in protecting the skin and supporting its structural integrity underscores the importance of vitamin C for overall skin health.

While other vitamins mentioned may have their own health benefits, vitamin D is primarily known for its role in bone health and immune function, vitamin B12 is crucial for nerve function and red blood cell formation, and vitamin A is essential for vision and immune health, but it does not primarily function as the antioxidant that vitamin C does, particularly in relation to skin health.