Biology · General Awareness

Vitamins and Nutrition

1,711 Questions

Review essential concepts of human nutrition, focusing on macro and micronutrients. The questions cover vitamin deficiencies, sources, and their physiological roles such as blood clotting and vision. This material is highly relevant for the general science section of various government exams.

Vitamin sources and functionsMacronutrients for energyBlood coagulation vitaminsDeficiency diseasesNutrient absorption mechanisms

Vitamins and Nutrition Questions

Multiple choice

Why are micronutrients essential for our body?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body They help shore up bones, heal wounds and bolster our immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. They are known mainly by their initials (such as vitamins A,B,C,D,E, and K—to name just a few). Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them. Yet failing to get even those small quantities virtually guarantees disease. Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. It means the minerals in soil and water easily find their way into our body through the plants, fish, animals and fluids we consume. But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.

  1. They perform a number of functions in our body.

  2. They help to regulate the excretory system.

  3. Human beings depend on these for their survival.

  4. They help us in our day to day performance.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body'. This is the correct option.

Multiple choice

What is the other name for vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body They help shore up bones, heal wounds and bolster our immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. They are known mainly by their initials (such as vitamins A,B,C,D,E, and K—to name just a few). Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them. Yet failing to get even those small quantities virtually guarantees disease. Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. It means the minerals in soil and water easily find their way into our body through the plants, fish, animals and fluids we consume. But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.

  1. The other name for these is according to their initials such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K.

  2. The other name for these is 'micronutrients'.

  3. The other name for these is 'organic compounds'.

  4. The other name for these is 'inorganic compounds'.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients.

Multiple choice

Why it is not easy to meet the vitamin requirement of our body?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body They help shore up bones, heal wounds and bolster our immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. They are known mainly by their initials (such as vitamins A,B,C,D,E, and K—to name just a few). Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them. Yet failing to get even those small quantities virtually guarantees disease. Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. It means the minerals in soil and water easily find their way into our body through the plants, fish, animals and fluids we consume. But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.

  1. They are not to be found in most of the food stuffs.

  2. It is not easy to meet the vitamin requirement of our body because they have a short shelf life and are destroyed by exposure to heat and air.

  3. They are not easily absorbed by the body.

  4. They cannot be synthesized in the laboratory.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds'. This the correct option.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage means 'easy to damage or break'?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body They help shore up bones, heal wounds and bolster our immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. They are known mainly by their initials (such as vitamins A,B,C,D,E, and K—to name just a few). Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them. Yet failing to get even those small quantities virtually guarantees disease. Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. It means the minerals in soil and water easily find their way into our body through the plants, fish, animals and fluids we consume. But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.

  1. Exposure

  2. Immune

  3. Inactivate

  4. Fragile
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The word 'fragile' means easy to damage or break. This is the correct option.

Multiple choice

Why are vitamins and minerals also called micronutrients?

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients because they perform hundreds of roles in the body They help shore up bones, heal wounds and bolster our immune system. They also convert food into energy, and repair cellular damage. They are known mainly by their initials (such as vitamins A,B,C,D,E, and K—to name just a few). Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them. Yet failing to get even those small quantities virtually guarantees disease. Although they are all considered micronutrients, vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air or acid. Minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. It means the minerals in soil and water easily find their way into our body through the plants, fish, animals and fluids we consume. But it’s tougher to shuttle vitamins from food and other sources into our body because cooking, storage and simple exposure to air can inactivate these more fragile compounds. There is a fine line between getting enough of these nutrients (which is healthy) and getting too much (which can end up harming you). Eating a healthy diet remains the best way to get sufficient amounts of the vitamins and minerals you need.

  1. They are so called because our body needs only traces of these.

  2. They are so called because they microscopic in size.

  3. They are so called because they can be seen only with the help of a microscope.

  4. They are so called because they are easily damaged.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Vitamins and minerals are often called micronutrients because our body needs only tiny amounts of them'. This is the correct option.

Multiple choice

From nutritional point of view, our food must contain

  1. proteins

  2. vitamins and minerals

  3. carbohydrates and fats

  4. all the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A nutritionally adequate diet requires all major nutrient groups: proteins for tissue building and repair, vitamins and minerals for metabolic functions, and carbohydrates and fats for energy. No single nutrient group can fulfill all dietary needs.

Multiple choice

Which of the following vitamins is essential for the formation of the plasma protein, prothrombin, in the liver?

  1. Vitamin A

  2. Vitamin B

  3. Vitamin C

  4. Vitamin E

  5. Vitamin K
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin, so our body stores it in fat tissue and the liver. It is best known for its role in helping blood clot. Blood clotting factors are needed for blood to clot (coagulation). Prothrombin or factor II is one of the clotting factors made by the liver. Vitamin K is needed to make prothrombin and other clotting factors.

Multiple choice

Which of the following food components functions in transporting vitamins in our body?

  1. Roughage

  2. Minerals

  3. Fats

  4. Carbohydrates

  5. Proteins
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Fats play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, insulating body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature and promoting healthy cell function. Fats also serve as energy stores for the body. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble meaning they can only be digested, absorbed and transported in conjunction with fats. Fats are also sources of essential fatty acids, which are an important dietary requirement.