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 reflexes
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; Low TSAT)
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 reflexes
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; Low TSAT)
