Consider the following pairs:
Contents10
Consider the following pairs:
| Vitamin | Deficiency disease | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Vitamin C | Scurvy |
| 2. | Vitamin D | Rickets |
| 3. | Vitamin E | Night blindness |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C1, 2 and 3
- DNone
Show answer
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Pair 1 — CORRECT:
Vitamin C deficiency → Scurvy (bleeding gums, weakness, bruising).
Pair 2 — CORRECT:
Vitamin D deficiency → Rickets (soft, weak bones in children; osteomalacia in adults).
Pair 3 — WRONG:
Vitamin E deficiency does NOT cause night blindness.
Night blindness is caused by Vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin E deficiency causes nerve and muscle damage, not eye problems.
Must-memorise chart:
- Vit A → Night blindness
- Vit B1 → Beriberi
- Vit B3 → Pellagra
- Vit C → Scurvy
- Vit D → Rickets
- Vit K → Bleeding disorders.
(Ref: NCERT Science Class 9)
Vitamin deficiency diseases affect millions in India, making this a recurring UPSC topic with direct health policy relevance.
The trap here is Vitamin E versus Vitamin A — students often confuse which vitamin causes night blindness since both are fat-soluble vitamins.
Vitamin Deficiency Diseases
Science And Technology Vitamin C Scurvy Vitamin D Rickets Vitamin E Night blindness
Vitamin Deficiency Diseases: Complete UPSC Chart
Vitamin A → Night blindness (most tested pair)
Vitamin C → Scurvy (bleeding gums, weakness)
Vitamin D → Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults
Vitamin E deficiency causes nerve damage, NOT eye problems
Fat-soluble: A, D, E, K; Water-soluble: B-complex, C
Why This Matters
UPSC frequently tests vitamin-deficiency pairs to check if students confuse similar symptoms. Vitamin E and Vitamin A both affect body systems, but only Vitamin A causes night blindness.
Complete Vitamin-Deficiency Chart
Vitamin | Deficiency Disease | Key Symptoms | Food Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
Vitamin A | Night blindness, Xerophthalmia | Poor vision in dim light, dry eyes | Carrots, green leafy vegetables, fish |
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | Beriberi | Muscle weakness, heart problems | Whole grains, pulses, nuts |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | Pellagra | 4 Ds: Diarrhea, Dermatitis, Dementia, Death | Meat, fish, groundnuts |
Vitamin C | Scurvy | Bleeding gums, bruising, weakness | Citrus fruits, tomatoes, green vegetables |
Vitamin D | Rickets (children), Osteomalacia (adults) | Soft bones, bone deformities | Sunlight, fish, fortified milk |
Vitamin E | Nerve and muscle damage | Muscle weakness, coordination problems | Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds |
Vitamin K | Bleeding disorders | Poor blood clotting, excessive bleeding | Green leafy vegetables, liver |
Question Analysis
Pair 1 (Vitamin C → Scurvy): CORRECT — Classic deficiency causing bleeding gums and weakness
Pair 2 (Vitamin D → Rickets): CORRECT — Bone disease in children due to calcium absorption problems
Pair 3 (Vitamin E → Night blindness): WRONG — Night blindness is caused by Vitamin A, not E
Trap: Vitamin E confused with Vitamin A for night blindness — remember 'A for Eyes'
Trap: Rickets vs Osteomalacia — same disease but rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults
Trap: Scurvy symptoms (bleeding) confused with Vitamin K deficiency — but scurvy has gum bleeding + weakness
Memory aid: ABCD vitamins → A-eyes, B-beriberi, C-scurvy, D-deformed bones
Fat-Soluble vs Water-Soluble Vitamins
Science And Technology
Vitamin Classification: Solubility & Storage
Fat-soluble: A, D, E, K — stored in body, can cause toxicity
Water-soluble: B-complex, C — not stored, need daily intake
Fat-soluble vitamins need bile for absorption
Key Differences
Property | Fat-Soluble (A,D,E,K) | Water-Soluble (B,C) |
|---|---|---|
Storage | Stored in liver and fatty tissues | Not stored, excreted in urine |
Frequency needed | Not required daily | Required daily |
Toxicity risk | High (accumulates in body) | Low (excess is excreted) |
Absorption | Requires bile and fat | Direct absorption |
Deficiency onset | Slow (takes months) | Quick (takes weeks) |
Food preparation | Stable to heat | Destroyed by heat/cooking |
Clinical Implications
Malabsorption syndromes affect fat-soluble vitamins more than water-soluble ones
Overdose risk: Fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate and cause toxicity
Cooking loss: Water-soluble vitamins (especially C) are lost in boiling water
Memory trick: 'ADEK' are fat-soluble — all others are water-soluble
Trap: Students think all vitamins need daily intake — fat-soluble vitamins are stored
Nutritional Deficiency in India
Science And Technology
Major Nutritional Deficiencies in India & Government Programs
Iron deficiency causes anemia in 50%+ Indian women
Vitamin A deficiency leads to childhood blindness
Iodine deficiency causes goiter and mental retardation
Government runs fortification programs for salt, oil, wheat
Major Deficiencies & Programs
Deficiency | Health Impact | Government Program | Target Food |
|---|---|---|---|
Vitamin A | Night blindness, child mortality | Vitamin A supplementation | Mega-dose capsules |
Iron | Anemia, maternal deaths | Weekly Iron Folic Acid | Iron tablets for adolescents |
Iodine | Goiter, cretinism | Universal Salt Iodization | Iodized salt mandatory |
Vitamin D | Rickets in children | Fortification program | Fortified milk, oil |
Folic Acid | Neural tube defects | WIFS program | Folic acid tablets |
Policy Context
Food Fortification is cheaper than treating deficiency diseases later
POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018) targets malnutrition reduction by 2022
Mid-day Meal Scheme helps reduce Vitamin A and iron deficiency in school children