D440 Vitamins Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
What are the main functions of Vitamin A?
Vision (especially night vision), immune function, growth, cell regeneration
What are food sources of Vitamin A?
Animal sources (liver, dairy), yellow/orange fruits & vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes), deep
green leafy vegetables
What does Vitamin A deficiency look like?
Night blindness, vision changes, Bitot's spots, impaired immunity
What does Vitamin A toxicity look like?
Bone pain, dry skin, fatigue, anorexia, liver injury, hair loss, ascites
Special note: Teratogenic during pregnancy (causes birth defects).
What is the earliest clinical sign of Vitamin A deficiency?
Night blindness
Which vitamin is teratogenic if taken in excess during pregnancy?
Vitamin A
A patient has dry, scaly skin, hair loss, and liver enlargement. What vitamin overdose do you
suspect?
Vitamin A toxicity
What are Bitot's spots and what vitamin deficiency causes them?
Foamy white lesions on conjunctiva due to Vitamin A deficiency.
What is the main function of Vitamin D?
Helps with mineralization and homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus; supports bone health
What are common sources of Vitamin D?
,Sunlight (UV exposure), fatty fish, fortified dairy products, fortified cereals
What does Vitamin D deficiency cause in children?
Rickets - soft, weak bones, bowed legs
What does Vitamin D deficiency cause in adults?
Osteomalacia - bone pain, muscle weakness
What does Vitamin D toxicity look like?
Fragile bones, hypercalcemia, kidney stones, calcification of soft tissues
A child presents with bowed legs and delayed growth. Which vitamin deficiency is suspected?
Vitamin D (Rickets)
Which vitamin helps with calcium and phosphorus absorption from the intestines?
Vitamin D
What lab values might indicate Vitamin D toxicity?
High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) and possible kidney stones
Patients with chronic kidney disease are at risk for deficiency of which vitamin and why?
Vitamin D; kidneys convert Vitamin D to its active form (calcitriol).
What is the main function of Vitamin E?
Acts as an antioxidant; protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system
What are common food sources of Vitamin E?
Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens.
Is toxicity from food sources of Vitamin E common?
No, toxicity from foods is rare; toxicity is usually from excessive supplements.
what does Vitamin E toxicity look like?
Increased risk of bleeding due to its effect on vitamin K-dependent clotting.
What does Vitamin E deficiency cause?
Hemolytic anemia (due to red blood cell membrane breakdown).
A patient taking high-dose Vitamin E supplements is at increased risk for what condition?
, Bleeding, especially if also on anticoagulants (like Warfarin)
What type of anemia is associated with Vitamin E deficiency?
Hemolytic anemia
Why does Vitamin E deficiency lead to hemolytic anemia?
Because RBC membranes are damaged by oxidative stress when antioxidant protection is low.
Which patients are at higher risk for Vitamin E deficiency?
Premature infants and patients with fat-malabsorption disorders (e.g. cystic fibrosis)
What are the main functions of Vitamin K?
Blood clotting (activates clotting factors) and bone development
What are common food sources of Vitamin K?
Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli), brussels sprouts, liver, and vegetable oils
What does Vitamin K deficiency look like?
Increased bleeding, bruising easily.
In newborns: Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
What does Vitamin K toxicity look like?
Toxicity is extremely rare; usually only occurs with synthetic forms.
Which patients are at risk for Vitamin K deficiency?
Patients on long-term antibiotics (gut bacteria decreased), newborns, and people with fat-
malabsorption disorders
What must be monitored when a patient on warfarin increases their intake of leafy green
vegetables?
INR/PT levels - Vitamin K can decrease the effectiveness of warfarin.
Why do newborns receive a Vitamin K injection at birht?
Their intestines are sterile and cannot produce Vitamin K, putting them at risk of bleeding.
Which vitamin is essential for the activation of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X?
Vitamin K
Correct Answers
What are the main functions of Vitamin A?
Vision (especially night vision), immune function, growth, cell regeneration
What are food sources of Vitamin A?
Animal sources (liver, dairy), yellow/orange fruits & vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes), deep
green leafy vegetables
What does Vitamin A deficiency look like?
Night blindness, vision changes, Bitot's spots, impaired immunity
What does Vitamin A toxicity look like?
Bone pain, dry skin, fatigue, anorexia, liver injury, hair loss, ascites
Special note: Teratogenic during pregnancy (causes birth defects).
What is the earliest clinical sign of Vitamin A deficiency?
Night blindness
Which vitamin is teratogenic if taken in excess during pregnancy?
Vitamin A
A patient has dry, scaly skin, hair loss, and liver enlargement. What vitamin overdose do you
suspect?
Vitamin A toxicity
What are Bitot's spots and what vitamin deficiency causes them?
Foamy white lesions on conjunctiva due to Vitamin A deficiency.
What is the main function of Vitamin D?
Helps with mineralization and homeostasis of calcium and phosphorus; supports bone health
What are common sources of Vitamin D?
,Sunlight (UV exposure), fatty fish, fortified dairy products, fortified cereals
What does Vitamin D deficiency cause in children?
Rickets - soft, weak bones, bowed legs
What does Vitamin D deficiency cause in adults?
Osteomalacia - bone pain, muscle weakness
What does Vitamin D toxicity look like?
Fragile bones, hypercalcemia, kidney stones, calcification of soft tissues
A child presents with bowed legs and delayed growth. Which vitamin deficiency is suspected?
Vitamin D (Rickets)
Which vitamin helps with calcium and phosphorus absorption from the intestines?
Vitamin D
What lab values might indicate Vitamin D toxicity?
High calcium levels (hypercalcemia) and possible kidney stones
Patients with chronic kidney disease are at risk for deficiency of which vitamin and why?
Vitamin D; kidneys convert Vitamin D to its active form (calcitriol).
What is the main function of Vitamin E?
Acts as an antioxidant; protects cells from oxidative damage and supports the immune system
What are common food sources of Vitamin E?
Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens.
Is toxicity from food sources of Vitamin E common?
No, toxicity from foods is rare; toxicity is usually from excessive supplements.
what does Vitamin E toxicity look like?
Increased risk of bleeding due to its effect on vitamin K-dependent clotting.
What does Vitamin E deficiency cause?
Hemolytic anemia (due to red blood cell membrane breakdown).
A patient taking high-dose Vitamin E supplements is at increased risk for what condition?
, Bleeding, especially if also on anticoagulants (like Warfarin)
What type of anemia is associated with Vitamin E deficiency?
Hemolytic anemia
Why does Vitamin E deficiency lead to hemolytic anemia?
Because RBC membranes are damaged by oxidative stress when antioxidant protection is low.
Which patients are at higher risk for Vitamin E deficiency?
Premature infants and patients with fat-malabsorption disorders (e.g. cystic fibrosis)
What are the main functions of Vitamin K?
Blood clotting (activates clotting factors) and bone development
What are common food sources of Vitamin K?
Green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli), brussels sprouts, liver, and vegetable oils
What does Vitamin K deficiency look like?
Increased bleeding, bruising easily.
In newborns: Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn
What does Vitamin K toxicity look like?
Toxicity is extremely rare; usually only occurs with synthetic forms.
Which patients are at risk for Vitamin K deficiency?
Patients on long-term antibiotics (gut bacteria decreased), newborns, and people with fat-
malabsorption disorders
What must be monitored when a patient on warfarin increases their intake of leafy green
vegetables?
INR/PT levels - Vitamin K can decrease the effectiveness of warfarin.
Why do newborns receive a Vitamin K injection at birht?
Their intestines are sterile and cannot produce Vitamin K, putting them at risk of bleeding.
Which vitamin is essential for the activation of clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X?
Vitamin K
