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

Which of the following vitamin is needed for red blood cell formation?

  1. Thiamine

  2. Riboflavin

  3. Folic acid

  4. Calciferol
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is essential for DNA synthesis and red blood cell maturation. It is required for the synthesis of thymidine and purines, and deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia - large, immature red blood cells with impaired oxygen-carrying capacity. Folate is especially critical during pregnancy and periods of rapid cell division.

Multiple choice

Anti-infection vitamin is

  1. cyanocobalamin

  2. pantothenic acid

  3. thiamine

  4. riboflavin

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

Vitamin A is essential for vision, and when converted to retinoic acid, it is essential for skin health, teeth remineralisation and bone growth. Hence, it is also known as anti-infection vitamin.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a source of vitamin A?

  1. Carrot

  2. Mango

  3. Apple

  4. Yeast

  5. Grape
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yeast is not a source of vitamin A. Nutritional yeast is a good source of protein, magnesium, copper and manganese and a very good source of dietary fibre, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid and zinc.

Multiple choice

Cod liver oil is a source of

  1. vitamin B

  2. Vitamic C

  3. Vitamin A

  4. Iodine
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cod liver oil is naturally rich in vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin D. It has been used historically to prevent vitamin deficiencies. The oil is extracted from cod livers and is one of the few natural sources that provides significant amounts of both fat-soluble vitamins.

Multiple choice

Which one is the correct match?

  1. Iron - Ricket

  2. Vitamin A - Scurvy

  3. Iodine - Goitre

  4. Calcium - Anaemia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Iodine deficiency causes goitre (enlarged thyroid gland). Iron deficiency causes anaemia, not rickets. Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness, not scurvy (that's vitamin C deficiency). Calcium deficiency causes weak bones/osteoporosis, not anaemia.

Multiple choice

Vitamin essential for blood clotting is

  1. A

  2. E

  3. C

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

Vitamin K is essential for synthesizing clotting factors in the liver, making it necessary for blood coagulation. Without vitamin K, blood cannot clot properly. Vitamin A supports vision, vitamin E is an antioxidant, and vitamin C aids collagen production and immunity.

Multiple choice

Which amongst the following is the natural source of vitamin B?

  1. Liver

  2. Meat and eggs

  3. Leafy vegetables

  4. All foods rich in B complex

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Vitamin B is not a single vitamin but a complex of eight distinct B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12), each found in different food sources. The most comprehensive answer is that all foods rich in B complex vitamins serve as natural sources. This includes liver (rich in B12), meat and eggs (good sources of multiple B vitamins), and leafy vegetables (containing folate/B9). No single food source provides all B vitamins in optimal amounts.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  1. Vitamin A promotes growth and vision.

  2. Magnesium is helpful in bone and teeth formation.

  3. Fibrous food is good for proper movement of food in alimentary canal.

  4. Iron helps make the blood red.

  5. Roughage contains all the components of food.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is incorrect. Roughage contains fibre.