Which one of the following is the correct matching of a vitamin, its nature and its deficiency disease :
A
Vitamin K – Fat soluble – Beri Beri
B
Vitamin A – Fat soluble – Beri Beri
C
Vitamin K – Water soluble – Pellagra
D
Vitamin A – Fat soluble – Night blindness
The answer is D.
Solution
Fat soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K; water soluble vitamins are the B group and C. Vitamin A (retinol) is fat soluble. It forms the visual pigment rhodopsin in the rod cells of the retina. Its deficiency causes night blindness (and xerophthalmia). Vitamin K is fat soluble and is needed for blood clotting; its deficiency delays clotting (haemorrhage). It is not water soluble. Beri-beri is caused by deficiency of vitamin $B_1$ (thiamine), and pellagra by deficiency of niacin (vitamin $B_3$). So the correct matching is Vitamin A – fat soluble – night blindness.
ConceptFat soluble vitamin A and night blindness
Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases in past papers
5 questions from this chapter have appeared across 4 exam years.