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 biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

Which of the following vitamins is an main antioxidant?

  1. $A$
  2. $B _6$
  3. $D$
  4. $K$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The three major antioxidant vitamins are beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E. Beta carotene is an antioxidant that gets converted to vitamin A and plays a very important role in health. It's responsible for the red, yellow, and orange coloration of some fruits and veggies.

Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant within the body that scavenges harmful oxygen free radicals.
So, the correct answer is 'A'.

Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

Which is not shown by vitamins?

  1. Digestion

  2. Metabolism

  3. Growth

  4. None of the above

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

Vitamins are accessory food factors, which are required in small quantity for controlling metabolism and body functioning. Vitamins are of two types- fat soluble (A, D, E, K) and water soluble (B and C). Vitamins like minerals are not digested but directly absorbed from ingested food. They play role in metabolism and growth.

Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

A good source of vitamins of B groups is 

  1. Carrot

  2. Fish oil

  3. Germinated seeds

  4. Egg yolk

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

  • A vitamin is an organic molecule that is an essential micronutrient that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism. 
  • Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism, either at all or not in sufficient quantities, and therefore must be obtained through the diet.
  • Best food sources of vitamin B:     Whole grains (brown rice, barley, millet)
                                                         Germinated seeds.
                                                         Eggs and dairy products (milk, cheese)
                                                             Legumes (beans, lentils) etc.
    • Sprouting is the natural germination process by which seeds or spores put out shoots, plants produce new leaves or buds, or other newly developing parts experience further growth. Hence, A good source of vitamins of B groups is Germinated seeds.
    So, the correct answer is 'germinated seeds'.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    The vitamin which can be synthesized in the gut by bacterial action is

    1. Vitamin B$ _1$
    2. B$ _2$
    3. Vitamin B$ _{12}$
    4. All of the above

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

    In the large intestine, water is absorbed into the blood as the waste materials move through the colon. The symbiotic bacteria such as E. coli and Streptococcus faecalis, normally residing in the healthy human colon, feed on protein contents of chyle breaking them into amino acids which are absorbed into the blood. The colon bacteria also synthesize vitamins B1, B2, biotin, folic acid and K which are absorbed. They also convert bile pigments into brown pigments which give colour to faeces. 

    Thus, the correct answer is option D. 

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Vitamin stored in liver is 

    1. Vitamin D

    2. Vitamin K

    3. Vitamin E

    4. All of the above

    Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
    D Correct answer
    Explanation
    • A vitamin is an organic molecule that is an essential micronutrient that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism.
    • Fat-soluble vitamins(A, D and K) are stored in different organs of the body and especially in the liver.
    • Vitamin A, VitaminK and Vitamin E are stored in the liver because they are fat soluble vitamins.
    • So, the correct answer is 'All the above'.
    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    The correct match is 

    A. Vitamin ${B _1}$   Thiamine
    B. Vitamin ${B _5}$ Pantothenic acid
    C. Vitamin A   Retinol
    D. Vitamin E Tocopherol
    1. A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4

    2. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

    3. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

    4. A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

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

    Vitamins are important nutrient supplements required in small amounts. They usually serve as coenzymes in metabolic reactions. Vitamin B$ _{1}$ is also called as Thiamine and its coenzyme form is thiamine pyrophosphate. Vitamin B$ _{5}$ is pantothenate. It is an important component of coenzyme A. Vitamin B$ _{3}$ or Niacin is important for synthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or NAD and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or NADP. Vitamin A is also called retinol. It is essential for vision. Vitamin E is also called tocopherol. It is an important for fertility factor.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following vitamins are fat soluble?

    1. A, B, C, K

    2. A, B, D, E

    3. A, D, E, K

    4. A, D, C, K

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

    Vitamins are important nutritional supplements for body. They are required for normal body metabolism. Vitamins can be grouped into two categories- fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E and K) and water soluble vitamins (vitamin B complex and vitamin C). The fat soluble vitamins can be stored in body fat but water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in body.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following is not a function of vitamins?

    1. Useful in metabolism

    2. To give energy

    3. Useful in growth

    4. Useful in digestion

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

    Vitamins do not help to increase the amount of calories or energy required for the human body. Instead vitamins which are used in small quantities helps human beings to stay healthy. While the daily requirements of vitamins may differ from individual to individual, the necessary amounts can be met through intake of healthy food.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    The vitamin that is useful in cancer is vitamin

    1. A

    2. ${ B } _{ 17 }$
    3. C

    4. All of the above

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

    Vitamin A - carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A is found in most orange and green vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and other leafy green vegetables. It has been shown in research that -carotene protect the lungs against toxins that are linked to lung cancer. Another study found that ex-smokers who ate green and yellow vegetables high in beta carotene daily decreased their risk of stomach and lung cancer.
    Vitamin ${B _{17}}$ - The anti-tumour agent Vitamin ${B _{17}}$ (commonly known as Amygdalin or Laetrile) therapy is one of the most popular and best known alternative cancer treatments. It is very simple to use and is very effective when used in high enough doses with product of high quality combined with an effective cancer diet and key supplements. Laetrile works by targeting and killing cancer cells and building the immune system to fend off future outbreaks of cancer. The greatest concentration is found in the seeds of the rosaceous fruits, such as the apricot pits and other bitter nuts.
    Vitamin C - Vitamin C has shown great promise in the fight against cancer, both in prevention and disease-management. Some properties of the vitamin C may make it toxic to cancer cells. Vitamin C is an antioxidant,it also enhance the immune system by stimulating the activities of natural killer cells (a type of white blood cell) and anti-cancer agents. Vitamin C is also said to prevent tumors from spreading, help the body heal after cancer surgery, enhance the effects of certain anti-cancer drugs, and reduce the toxic effects of other drugs used in chemotherapy. It also boost the effectiveness of other cancer treatments. Vitamin C is found in many vegetables and fruits, especially oranges, grape fruits, and peppers.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Certain B vitamins are

    1. Enzymes

    2. Co-enzymes

    3. Hormones

    4. Digestive substances

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

    Vitamins are important nutritional components. Vitamins are grouped into two categories fat soluble (vitamin A, D, E and K) and water soluble (vitamin B complex and C). Many component vitamins of vitamin B complex act as coenzymes during metabolic reactions example thiamine is the precursor of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), niacin is the precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), riboflavin is the precursor of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) etc. 

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following is a water soluble vitamin?

    1. Vitamin A

    2. Vitamin B

    3. Vitamin D

    4. Vitamin E

    5. Vitamin K

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

    Vitamins are important for healthy living. They are required for normal body metabolism as many enzymes required coenzymes for their activity. The coenzymes are derived from vitamins. The vitamins are divided into two categories- fat soluble (vitamin A, D, E and K) and water soluble (vitamin B complex and C).

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    The maximum amount of which nutrient is lost during processing?

    1. Vitamins

    2. Proteins

    3. Carbohydrates

    4. Fats

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

    Almost all food is processed in some way before it is eaten. Commercially, the main reasons to process food are to eliminate micro-organisms (which may cause disease) and to extend shelf life. Simply cooking or combining a food with other foodstuffs to create a recipe is also considered a form of food processing. Whatever the case, the nutrient value of any food is often altered by the processing. Some vitamins are more stable (less affected by processing) than others. Water-soluble vitamins (B-group and C) are more unstable than fat-soluble vitamins (K, A, D and E) during food processing and storage. The most unstable vitamins include: folate, thiamine and vitamin C. More stable vitamins include: niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin K, vitamin D etc. So, maximum amount of vitamins are lost during food processing compared to carbohydrates, fats and proteins. 

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following does not generate energy inside the body but are still essential?

    1. Fat

    2. Proteins

    3. Vitamins

    4. Carbohydrates

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

    Vitamins does not generate energy inside the body but are still essential.

    You need vitamins for immune function, growth, normal eye functions and an array of biological activities. Vitamins come in two forms: water-soluble and fat-soluble. Water soluble vitamins include a series of B vitamins and vitamin C. You need to consume water-soluble vitamins from foods throughout the day, since your body does not have a way to store them. Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and stored with the help of fat. These vitamins, which are A, D, E and K, stay in your body until needed. Even though, vitamins do not have calories and do not give you energy directly, some of them are involved in energy metabolism. For example- thiamine, niacin and riboflavin, which are all B vitamins, pull energy from carbohydrates, protein and fat in your diet, but the B vitamins do not independently provide energy.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following is true about a vitamin?

    1. Vitamins can remain stable at high temperatures.

    2. Vitamins acts as co-factors in enzymatic reactions.

    3. Vitamin increases the activation energy of a substrate and hence accelerates reactions.

    4. Vitamins are always fat soluble.

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

    Vitamins are essential compounds that must be acquired through the diet because the body can't synthesize them. One of the reasons vitamins are needed is because they play an indirect role in catalysis, in which enzymes speed up chemical reactions. However, most vitamins can't help enzymes on their own. In order to participate in catalytic reactions, most vitamins have to change into coenzymes that are small "co-pilot" molecules that pair up with enzymes. These coenzymes are extremely useful because they stay the same after catalysis, so they're recycled and reused multiple times.

    Multiple choice biology constitutes of diet role of vitamins functions and principal sources of vitamins and minerals digestive disorders need for nutrients

    Which of the following substances is assimilated unchanged?

    1. Vitamin

    2. Protein

    3. Starch

    4. Lipid

    Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
    A Correct answer
    Explanation
    Biological assimilation, is the combination of two processes to supply cells with nutrients. The first is the process of absorbing vitamins, minerals, and other chemicals from food within the gastrointestinal tract. In humans this is done with a chemical breakdown (enzymes and acids) and physical breakdown (oral mastication and stomach churning). The second process of bio assimilation is the chemical alteration of substances in the bloodstream by the liver or cellular secretions. Although a few similar compounds can be absorbed in digestion bio assimilation, the bioavailability of many compounds is dictated by this second process since both the liver and cellular secretions can be very specific in their metabolic action. This second process is where the absorbed food reaches the cells via the liver.