Chemical Pathology 9 - Nutrition

Question 1

Which are the fat soluble vitamins? (Recall letter and name)

Answer 1

A - Retinol
D - cholecalciferol
E - tocopherol
K - phytomenodione

Question 2

What are the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency?

Answer 2

Colour blindness

Question 3

What are the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

Answer 3

Osteomalacia/ ricketts

Question 4

What are the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency?

Answer 4

Anaemia, neuropathy, ischaemic heart disease 
Vit E (tocopherol) is an anti oxidant. Deficiency leads to haemolytic anaemia due to oxidative damage and destruction in the spleen. Also results in spino-cerebellar neuropathy with ataxia and hyperreflexia and can also lead to LDL becoming oxidised causes atherosclerosis

Question 5

What are the symptoms of vitamin K deficiency?

Answer 5

Clotting defects

Question 6

How can you test vitamin A levels?

Answer 6

Serum vitamin levels (although pretty much never done)

Question 7

How can you test vitamin D levels?

Answer 7

Serum vitamin levels

Question 8

How can you test vitamin E levels?

Answer 8

Serum vitamin levels

Question 9

How can you test vitamin K level?

Answer 9

Prothrombin time

Question 10

Name vitamins B1, 2, 6 and 12

Answer 10

B1 = thiamin
B2 = riboflavin
B6 = pyridoxine
B12 - cobalamin

Question 11

Which vitamin deficiency causes Beri Beri neuropathy?

Answer 11

B1 (thiamin)

Question 12

How can vit B1 levels be tested?

Answer 12

Red Blood Cell transketolase (but this takes forever to come back from the lab so is rarely done)

Question 13

What are the symptoms of vit B2 deficiency?

Answer 13

Glossitis
Vit B2 (riboflavin) deficiency causes mucosal damage

Question 14

What are the symptoms of vit B6 deficiency?

Answer 14

Dermatitis/ sideroblastic anaemia
Vit B6 (pyridoxine) is cofactor for metabolic pathways
Diagnosis of deficiency made by measuring erythrocyte levels of AST
Isoniazid use in TB can result in deficiency

Question 15

What are the symptoms of vit B12 deficiency?

Answer 15

Pernicious anaemia

Question 16

What are the symptoms of vit C deficiency?

Answer 16

Scurvy

Question 17

What condition is produced by niacin (Vit B3) deficiency?

Answer 17

Pellagra (Dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia)

Question 18

What states are produced by iron deficiency vs excess?

Answer 18

Deficiency = hypochromic anaemia
Excess = haemachromatosis

Question 19

What symptoms does zinc deficiency produce?

Answer 19

Dermatitis

Question 20

How can Wilson’s disease be tested for?

Answer 20

Caeruloplasmin level

Question 21

Deficiency in which hormone can cause insulin resistance?

Answer 21

Adiponectin

Question 22

Where is adiponectin produced?

Answer 22

White adipose tissue

Question 23

What test can be used to prove a diagnosis of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?

Answer 23

Red blood cell transketolase

Question 24

What is carbohydrate deficient transferrin measurement used for?

Answer 24

To detect alcohol abuse