Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases: Quick Revision Table

Vitamins are organic nutrients required in small amounts. Questions on vitamin deficiency are asked in almost every exam, so make a table and revise it weekly.

Fat-soluble vitamins

• Vitamin A (Retinol): deficiency causes night blindness; sources are carrot, papaya, liver and green leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin D: deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults; made in the skin by sunlight.
• Vitamin E: an antioxidant; found in nuts and vegetable oils.
• Vitamin K: needed for blood clotting; deficiency causes excessive bleeding.

Water-soluble vitamins

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): deficiency causes beriberi.
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): cracks at the corners of the mouth and sore tongue.
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): deficiency causes pellagra.
• Vitamin B12: deficiency causes pernicious anaemia; found in animal products.
• Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid): deficiency causes scurvy; sources are amla, lemon and orange.

Other nutrients

• Iodine: deficiency causes goitre.
• Iron: deficiency causes anaemia.
• Calcium: needed for bones and teeth.
• Protein deficiency: kwashiorkor and marasmus in children.

Memory trick

Connect the first letters: A – eyes, B – nerves and energy, C – gums and skin, D – bones, K – blood clotting.

Practise with a short quiz after reading this note.