CSOWM - VITAMINS AND MINERALS
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
S/s of vitamin D deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -depression, muscle pain, involuntary muscle
movements, osteoporosis
S/S of Calcium deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Low bone density, osteoporosis, muscle contractions,
spasms, pain
S/S of magnesium deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -muscle contractions, pain, spasms, osteoporosis
Micronutrients to consider for bone health - CORRECT ANSWER -Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium
Micronutrients to consider for anemias - CORRECT ANSWER - Iron, B12, folic acid, zinc, copper
S/s iron deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Fatigue, low productivity, spoon shaped nails/vertical ridges,
glossitis
S/s B12 deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Numbness/tingling fingers and toes, glossitis, fatigue,
depression, dementia, gait ataxia
S/s folic acid deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Palpitations, fatigue, neural tube defects, changes in
skin pigmentation
S/s of zinc deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER - Skin lesions, poor wound healing, hair loss, taste changes
S/s of copper deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Unsteady gait, tingling in hands/feet, poor wound
healing. paralysis
S/s vitamin A deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Loss of nocturnal vision, itching, dry hair,
xerophthalmia, decreased immunity/poor wound healing
, S/s vitamin K deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER - Easy bruising
S/s vitamin E deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Hyporeflexia/weakness, gait ataxia
Dry Beriberi - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; convulsions, muscle weakness, pain of
lower/upper extremities, brisk tendon refl exes
Wet Beriberi - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; Tachycardia or bradycardia, lactic acidosis,
dyspnea, Neuropsychiatric: Confusion, ataxia, paralysis
Wernicke Encephalopathy - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; Ophthalmoplegia, ataxia,
confusion, hallucinations, psychosis
How to replete iron - CORRECT ANSWER -150-200 mg of elemental iron daily to 300 mg BID-
TID daily. Oral supplementation should be taken in divided doses separately from calcium supplements
, acid reducing medications, and foods high in phytates or polyphenols
What if iron deficiency does not respond to oral therapy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Intravenous iron infusion should be administered
Iron deficiency markers - CORRECT ANSWER -Iron < 50 micrograms/dL; TIBC > 450 micrograms/dL;
Ferritin < 20 micrograms/L (Low H/H; low MCV; L ow TSAT)
B12 deficiency markers - CORRECT ANSWER -Serum MMA > 0.56 mmol/L; decreased serum B12
(May miss 30-
50% of def) <400 pg/mL suboptimal; < 200 pg/mL deficiency; Increased homocysteine, decreased H/H,
increased MCV
How to replete B12 - CORRECT ANSWER - 1,000-2,000 mcg per day OR 1000 mcg/ week
Intramuscular
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
S/s of vitamin D deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -depression, muscle pain, involuntary muscle
movements, osteoporosis
S/S of Calcium deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Low bone density, osteoporosis, muscle contractions,
spasms, pain
S/S of magnesium deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -muscle contractions, pain, spasms, osteoporosis
Micronutrients to consider for bone health - CORRECT ANSWER -Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium
Micronutrients to consider for anemias - CORRECT ANSWER - Iron, B12, folic acid, zinc, copper
S/s iron deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Fatigue, low productivity, spoon shaped nails/vertical ridges,
glossitis
S/s B12 deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Numbness/tingling fingers and toes, glossitis, fatigue,
depression, dementia, gait ataxia
S/s folic acid deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Palpitations, fatigue, neural tube defects, changes in
skin pigmentation
S/s of zinc deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER - Skin lesions, poor wound healing, hair loss, taste changes
S/s of copper deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Unsteady gait, tingling in hands/feet, poor wound
healing. paralysis
S/s vitamin A deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Loss of nocturnal vision, itching, dry hair,
xerophthalmia, decreased immunity/poor wound healing
, S/s vitamin K deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER - Easy bruising
S/s vitamin E deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -Hyporeflexia/weakness, gait ataxia
Dry Beriberi - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; convulsions, muscle weakness, pain of
lower/upper extremities, brisk tendon refl exes
Wet Beriberi - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; Tachycardia or bradycardia, lactic acidosis,
dyspnea, Neuropsychiatric: Confusion, ataxia, paralysis
Wernicke Encephalopathy - CORRECT ANSWER -Thiamine deficiency; Ophthalmoplegia, ataxia,
confusion, hallucinations, psychosis
How to replete iron - CORRECT ANSWER -150-200 mg of elemental iron daily to 300 mg BID-
TID daily. Oral supplementation should be taken in divided doses separately from calcium supplements
, acid reducing medications, and foods high in phytates or polyphenols
What if iron deficiency does not respond to oral therapy? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Intravenous iron infusion should be administered
Iron deficiency markers - CORRECT ANSWER -Iron < 50 micrograms/dL; TIBC > 450 micrograms/dL;
Ferritin < 20 micrograms/L (Low H/H; low MCV; L ow TSAT)
B12 deficiency markers - CORRECT ANSWER -Serum MMA > 0.56 mmol/L; decreased serum B12
(May miss 30-
50% of def) <400 pg/mL suboptimal; < 200 pg/mL deficiency; Increased homocysteine, decreased H/H,
increased MCV
How to replete B12 - CORRECT ANSWER - 1,000-2,000 mcg per day OR 1000 mcg/ week
Intramuscular
