MCQ on Nutritional Deficiencies

🟒 Easy Level (1–20)

  1. Deficiency of vitamin A causes:
    a) Rickets
    b) Scurvy
    c) Night blindness βœ…
    d) Beriberi
    Explanation: Vitamin A is essential for vision, especially in low light.
  2. Rickets is caused by deficiency of:
    a) Vitamin C
    b) Vitamin A
    c) Vitamin D βœ…
    d) Iron
    Explanation: Vitamin D is required for proper bone development.
  3. Scurvy is caused by lack of:
    a) Vitamin B
    b) Vitamin C βœ…
    c) Iron
    d) Calcium
    Explanation: Vitamin C maintains healthy gums and connective tissue.
  4. Deficiency of iodine causes:
    a) Goiter βœ…
    b) Anemia
    c) Scurvy
    d) Night blindness
    Explanation: Iodine is required for thyroid hormone production.
  5. Beriberi is caused by deficiency of:
    a) Vitamin A
    b) Vitamin B1 βœ…
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Vitamin D
    Explanation: Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is essential for nerve function.
  6. Anemia results from deficiency of:
    a) Iron βœ…
    b) Calcium
    c) Protein
    d) Vitamin C
    Explanation: Iron is a key component of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
  7. A deficiency of calcium leads to:
    a) Anemia
    b) Tooth decay
    c) Weak bones βœ…
    d) Vision loss
    Explanation: Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth.
  8. Kwashiorkor is due to lack of:
    a) Fats
    b) Vitamins
    c) Protein βœ…
    d) Carbohydrates
    Explanation: Kwashiorkor is a protein-deficiency disease in children.
  9. Marasmus is caused by deficiency of:
    a) Only protein
    b) Protein and calories βœ…
    c) Only fat
    d) Vitamins only
    Explanation: Marasmus results from severe calorie and protein deficiency.
  10. To prevent anemia, we should include:
    a) Vitamin C
    b) Iron-rich foods βœ…
    c) Salt
    d) Water
    Explanation: Iron is essential for preventing anemia.
  11. Pellagra is caused by deficiency of:
    a) Vitamin B6
    b) Niacin (Vitamin B3) βœ…
    c) Vitamin D
    d) Vitamin A
    Explanation: Niacin deficiency causes pellagra, with symptoms of diarrhea, dermatitis, and dementia.
  12. What causes dental caries?
    a) Iron deficiency
    b) Lack of fluoride βœ…
    c) Lack of fiber
    d) Lack of sugar
    Explanation: Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.
  13. Which nutrient is required for strong teeth and bones?
    a) Iron
    b) Calcium βœ…
    c) Protein
    d) Sodium
    Explanation: Calcium is vital for bone and dental health.
  14. A symptom of scurvy is:
    a) Swollen thyroid
    b) Soft bones
    c) Bleeding gums βœ…
    d) Hair loss
    Explanation: Scurvy causes bleeding gums and joint pain.
  15. Vitamin D helps in absorption of:
    a) Iron
    b) Calcium βœ…
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Sodium
    Explanation: Vitamin D supports calcium absorption for bone health.
  16. Protein deficiency in children causes:
    a) Anemia
    b) Obesity
    c) Kwashiorkor βœ…
    d) Scurvy
    Explanation: Kwashiorkor results from inadequate protein intake.
  17. Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to:
    a) Scurvy
    b) Anemia βœ…
    c) Rickets
    d) Night blindness
    Explanation: B12 is essential for red blood cell formation.
  18. Vitamin C is mainly found in:
    a) Milk
    b) Citrus fruits βœ…
    c) Eggs
    d) Meat
    Explanation: Oranges and lemons are rich in Vitamin C.
  19. Goiter results in swelling of the:
    a) Liver
    b) Thyroid gland βœ…
    c) Kidney
    d) Brain
    Explanation: Iodine deficiency causes thyroid swelling.
  20. Vitamin A can be obtained from:
    a) White rice
    b) Butter
    c) Carrots βœ…
    d) Salt
    Explanation: Carrots contain beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.

🟑 Moderate Level (21–40)

  1. Zinc deficiency can cause:
    a) Hair loss βœ…
    b) Bleeding
    c) Goiter
    d) Bone pain
    Explanation: Zinc supports hair, skin, and immune health.
  2. Lack of Vitamin K leads to:
    a) Poor vision
    b) Excessive bleeding βœ…
    c) Brittle nails
    d) Diarrhea
    Explanation: Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting.
  3. Which vitamin is associated with neural tube defects?
    a) Vitamin A
    b) Folic acid βœ…
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Vitamin D
    Explanation: Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
  4. Osteoporosis is commonly due to lack of:
    a) Iron
    b) Vitamin A
    c) Calcium βœ…
    d) Vitamin C
    Explanation: Calcium maintains bone density.
  5. Vitamin E deficiency may lead to:
    a) Weak immunity βœ…
    b) Rickets
    c) Scurvy
    d) Cataracts
    Explanation: Vitamin E helps protect cells and supports immunity.
  6. Which vitamin deficiency affects the nervous system?
    a) Vitamin B1 βœ…
    b) Vitamin D
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Vitamin A
    Explanation: Thiamine (B1) deficiency affects nerves.
  7. Vitamin D deficiency in adults causes:
    a) Goiter
    b) Osteomalacia βœ…
    c) Kwashiorkor
    d) Pellagra
    Explanation: Osteomalacia is softening of bones in adults.
  8. Which symptom is common in iron deficiency anemia?
    a) Dizziness βœ…
    b) Joint pain
    c) Night blindness
    d) Skin rashes
    Explanation: Low iron reduces oxygen in blood, causing fatigue and dizziness.
  9. Fatigue and muscle cramps may be due to deficiency of:
    a) Sodium
    b) Potassium βœ…
    c) Vitamin D
    d) Calcium
    Explanation: Potassium helps with nerve and muscle function.
  10. Cracking at the corners of the mouth may indicate:
    a) Protein deficiency
    b) Vitamin B2 deficiency βœ…
    c) Vitamin C excess
    d) Zinc toxicity
    Explanation: Riboflavin (B2) supports healthy skin and mucous membranes.
  11. Niacin deficiency causes:
    a) Anemia
    b) Pellagra βœ…
    c) Scurvy
    d) Goiter
    Explanation: Pellagra is characterized by the 3 D’s: Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia.
  12. Delayed wound healing may be a sign of:
    a) Vitamin C deficiency βœ…
    b) Vitamin A deficiency
    c) Iron overload
    d) Calcium excess
    Explanation: Vitamin C is crucial for tissue repair and healing.
  13. Which vitamin deficiency is common in alcoholics?
    a) Vitamin B1 βœ…
    b) Vitamin D
    c) Vitamin A
    d) Vitamin C
    Explanation: Alcohol interferes with absorption of thiamine.
  14. A child with swollen belly and thin limbs may have:
    a) Scurvy
    b) Kwashiorkor βœ…
    c) Marasmus
    d) Goiter
    Explanation: Classic symptom of protein deficiency in kwashiorkor.
  15. What is a common sign of vitamin A deficiency?
    a) Bone pain
    b) Weak pulse
    c) Dry eyes βœ…
    d) Swollen joints
    Explanation: Vitamin A maintains eye moisture.
  16. Vitamin D is also known as the:
    a) Sunshine vitamin βœ…
    b) Sleep vitamin
    c) Brain vitamin
    d) Clotting vitamin
    Explanation: Vitamin D is synthesized by skin under sunlight.
  17. What is a major cause of preventable blindness in children?
    a) Zinc deficiency
    b) Vitamin A deficiency βœ…
    c) Iron deficiency
    d) Protein excess
    Explanation: Lack of vitamin A can lead to vision loss.
  18. Who is most at risk of iron deficiency?
    a) Elderly
    b) Young men
    c) Menopausal women
    d) Pregnant women βœ…
    Explanation: Increased demand during pregnancy requires more iron.
  19. Vitamin B12 is mostly found in:
    a) Meat and dairy βœ…
    b) Fruits
    c) Vegetables
    d) Cereals
    Explanation: B12 is animal-based, thus vegetarians may lack it.
  20. Children with marasmus show:
    a) Puffy face
    b) Wasting and thinness βœ…
    c) Swollen limbs
    d) Curved spine
    Explanation: Marasmus results in extreme wasting due to calorie deficiency.

πŸ”΄ Hard Level (41–50)

  1. Which vitamin deficiency is linked to bleeding disorders?
    a) Vitamin A
    b) Vitamin K βœ…
    c) Vitamin C
    d) Vitamin D
    Explanation: Vitamin K is required for blood clotting.
  2. Fat-soluble vitamins include:
    a) A, D, E, K βœ…
    b) B, C
    c) B1, B2, B6, B12
    d) All vitamins
    Explanation: Only A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble.
  3. Long-term vitamin D deficiency may lead to:
    a) Muscle hypertrophy
    b) Osteoporosis βœ…
    c) Constipation
    d) Blindness
    Explanation: Vitamin D deficiency weakens bones over time.
  4. Magnesium deficiency can lead to:
    a) Weight gain
    b) Muscle spasms βœ…
    c) Hair fall
    d) Swollen thyroid
    Explanation: Magnesium is involved in muscle function.
  5. A lack of vitamin B6 may result in:
    a) Poor memory βœ…
    b) Poor vision
    c) Scurvy
    d) Night sweats
    Explanation: B6 supports brain function.
  6. Vitamin E deficiency can lead to:
    a) Nerve and muscle damage βœ…
    b) Eye disease
    c) Rickets
    d) Tooth loss
    Explanation: Vitamin E protects nerve and muscle tissues.
  7. Which trace mineral is essential for thyroid hormone production?
    a) Zinc
    b) Copper
    c) Iodine βœ…
    d) Magnesium
    Explanation: Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones.
  8. Wernicke’s encephalopathy is caused by lack of:
    a) Thiamine (Vitamin B1) βœ…
    b) Vitamin C
    c) Iron
    d) Calcium
    Explanation: Seen in alcoholics due to thiamine deficiency.
  9. Bitot’s spots on eyes are seen in:
    a) Vitamin A deficiency βœ…
    b) Zinc deficiency
    c) Vitamin C deficiency
    d) Iron deficiency
    Explanation: White spots on eyes indicate vitamin A lack.
  10. Spina bifida in newborns is linked to:
    a) Low calcium
    b) Low folic acid βœ…
    c) High iron
    d) High sodium
    Explanation: Folic acid during pregnancy prevents neural tube defects.

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