Vitamins & Minerals — Set 7

Correct Answer: C. Sodium

• **Sodium (NaCl)** = Table salt is chemically sodium chloride (NaCl); sodium is the mineral present in it and is vital for nerve transmission, fluid balance, and muscle function. • **Electrolyte role** — sodium regulates blood pressure and maintains osmotic balance between cells and fluids. • Excess intake raises blood pressure; too little causes hyponatremia (low sodium levels). • 💡 Option A (Zinc) is wrong because zinc is found in legumes, seeds, and meat, not table salt; Option B (Iron) is wrong because iron is found in haemoglobin and red-meat sources, not salt; Option D (Potassium) is wrong because potassium chloride is a salt substitute used by heart patients, not regular table salt.

Correct Answer: A. Vitamin E

• **Vitamin E (Tocopherol)** = Tocopherol is the chemical name of Vitamin E; it is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from oxidative damage and supports healthy hair growth. • **Fat-soluble antioxidant** — stored in fatty tissues and the liver; protects cell membranes from free-radical damage. • Rich sources include wheat germ oil, almonds, sunflower seeds, and spinach. • 💡 Option B (Vitamin K) is wrong because it is known for blood clotting, not skin/hair health; Option C (Vitamin A) is wrong because while it supports vision and skin, its chemical name is Retinol, not Tocopherol; Option D (Vitamin C) is wrong because its chemical name is Ascorbic Acid and it is water-soluble, not fat-soluble.

Correct Answer: B. Niacin

• **Niacin (Vitamin B3)** = Pellagra is the classic deficiency disease of Niacin, characterised by the "4 Ds" — Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia, and Death (in severe cases). • **NAD/NADP coenzyme** — Niacin forms NAD and NADP coenzymes that are essential for energy metabolism in every cell. • Pellagra was historically common in populations dependent on corn (maize) as a staple, as corn lacks available niacin. • 💡 Option A (Thiamine/B1) is wrong because its deficiency causes Beriberi, not Pellagra; Option C (Folic Acid/B9) is wrong because its deficiency causes neural tube defects and megaloblastic anaemia; Option D (Riboflavin/B2) is wrong because its deficiency causes Ariboflavinosis — cracked lips and inflamed tongue, not Pellagra.

Correct Answer: C. Tooth decay

• **Tooth decay (Dental Caries)** = Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel by converting hydroxyapatite into fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid attack by bacteria, thus preventing cavities. • **Water fluoridation** — adding fluoride to drinking water at 0.7–1.0 ppm is a major public health measure recommended globally to reduce dental caries. • Excess fluoride, however, causes dental fluorosis (white spots/mottling) and skeletal fluorosis at very high doses. • 💡 Option A (Anemia) is wrong because anemia is prevented by iron and folate, not fluoride; Option B (Goitre) is wrong because goitre is prevented by iodine supplementation; Option D (Scurvy) is wrong because scurvy is caused by Vitamin C deficiency and has nothing to do with fluoride.

Correct Answer: D. Vitamin C

• **Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)** = Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes are the richest natural sources of Vitamin C, which is essential for collagen synthesis, immune function, and wound healing. • **Water-soluble antioxidant** — the body cannot store Vitamin C; it must be obtained daily from the diet as excess is excreted in urine. • Deficiency of Vitamin C causes Scurvy — characterised by bleeding gums, poor wound healing, and fatigue. • 💡 Option A (Vitamin A) is wrong because it is found primarily in orange/yellow vegetables and liver, and its deficiency causes night blindness; Option B (Vitamin E) is wrong because it is abundant in nuts, seeds, and oils, not citrus fruits; Option C (Vitamin D) is wrong because its main source is sunlight exposure, not fruits.

Correct Answer: A. Calcium

• **Calcium** = Calcium is the primary structural mineral of bones and teeth; its deficiency in the elderly leads to Osteoporosis — a condition where bones become porous, brittle, and prone to fractures. • **Bone density** — about 99% of the body's calcium is stored in bones; declining oestrogen after menopause accelerates calcium loss, making elderly women especially vulnerable. • Calcium works alongside Vitamin D; without Vitamin D, calcium absorption from the gut is severely reduced. • 💡 Option B (Zinc) is wrong because zinc deficiency mainly causes poor wound healing and immune dysfunction, not brittle bones; Option C (Iron) is wrong because iron deficiency leads to anaemia (low haemoglobin), not bone problems; Option D (Iodine) is wrong because iodine deficiency causes goitre and thyroid disorders, not brittle bones.

Correct Answer: B. Iron

• **Iron** = Haemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells; its heme group contains iron (Fe²⁺), which binds and transports oxygen from the lungs to tissues. • **Iron-deficiency anaemia** — insufficient iron leads to low haemoglobin production, causing fatigue, pallor, and breathlessness. • Good dietary sources of iron include red meat, leafy greens (spinach), legumes, and fortified cereals. • 💡 Option A (Iodine) is wrong because iodine is needed for thyroid hormone synthesis, not haemoglobin; Option C (Calcium) is wrong because calcium is the structural mineral of bones and teeth, unrelated to haemoglobin; Option D (Zinc) is wrong because zinc is a component of many enzymes and supports immunity, but is not part of haemoglobin.

Correct Answer: D. Vitamin D

• **Vitamin D (Calciferol)** = Vitamin D deficiency in children causes Rickets — bones fail to mineralise properly, leading to soft, weak, and bowed (deformed) limbs due to low calcium and phosphate deposition. • **Sunlight vitamin** — the skin synthesises Vitamin D when exposed to UVB rays; it is also found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy. • In adults, the same deficiency leads to Osteomalacia (softening of bones), not Rickets. • 💡 Option A (Vitamin A) is wrong because its deficiency causes night blindness and Xerophthalmia, not Rickets; Option B (Vitamin B12) is wrong because its deficiency causes pernicious anaemia and nerve damage; Option C (Vitamin C) is wrong because its deficiency causes Scurvy — bleeding gums and joint pain, not bone deformity.

Correct Answer: B. Vitamin E

• **Vitamin E (Tocopherol)** = Vitamin E earned the name 'anti-sterility vitamin' because early animal studies showed that its deficiency caused reproductive failure and sterility; it is essential for normal reproductive health in both sexes. • **Antioxidant protection of gametes** — Vitamin E protects sperm and egg cells from oxidative damage, supporting healthy reproduction. • The name 'Tocopherol' itself derives from Greek: tokos (childbirth) + pherein (to carry), reinforcing its reproductive role. • 💡 Option A (Vitamin D) is wrong because it is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' and primarily regulates calcium metabolism; Option C (Vitamin C) is wrong because it is known as the 'anti-scurvy vitamin' (Ascorbic Acid); Option D (Vitamin K) is wrong because it is known as the 'clotting vitamin' — essential for blood coagulation, not reproduction.

Correct Answer: B. Iodine

• **Iodine** = Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones (T3 — Triiodothyronine and T4 — Thyroxine); its deficiency causes the thyroid gland to enlarge in an attempt to trap more iodine, resulting in Goitre — a visible swelling of the neck. • **Iodised salt** — adding potassium iodate to table salt is the most effective public health strategy to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders worldwide. • In pregnant women, iodine deficiency can cause cretinism — severe mental and physical retardation in the newborn. • 💡 Option A (Iron) is wrong because iron deficiency causes anaemia, not goitre; Option C (Calcium) is wrong because calcium deficiency causes osteoporosis and rickets, not thyroid enlargement; Option D (Phosphorus) is wrong because phosphorus is a structural component of bones and DNA, and its deficiency does not cause goitre.