Chemical Pathology - Nutrition

Question 1

What are some fat soluble vitamins?

Answer 1

• A (retinol)
• D (cholecalciferol)
• E (Tocopherol)
• K (Phytomenadione)

Question 2

What are some consequences of vit A deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 2

Deficiency:
- Colour blindness

Excess:
- Exfoliation Hepatitis

Measure:
- Serum

Question 3

What are some consequences of vit D deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 3

Deficiency:
- Osteomalacia/rickets

Excess:
- Hypercalcaemia

Measure:
- Serum

Question 4

What are some consequences of vit E deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 4

Deficiency:
- Anaemia
- Neuropathy
- IHD

Measure:
- Serum

Question 5

What are some consequences of vit K deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 5

Deficiency:
- Defective clotting

Measure:
- PT

Question 6

What are some water soluble vitamins?

Answer 6

• B1 = Thiamine
• B2 = Riboflavin
• B3 = Niacin
• B6 = Pyridoxine
• B9 = Folate
• B12 = Cobalamin
• C = Ascorbate

Question 7

What are some consequences of vit B1 deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 7

Deficiency:
- Beri-Beri
- Neurpathy
- Wernicke Syndrome

Measure:
- RBC Transketolase

Question 8

What are some consequences of vit B2 deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 8

Deficiency:
- Glossitis

Measure:
- RBC Glutathione Reductase

Question 9

What are some consequences of vit B3 deficiency?

Answer 9

Deficiency:
- Pellagra (3Ds): Dementia, Dermatitis, Diarrhoea

Question 10

What are some consequences of vit 6 deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 10

Deficiency:
- Dermatitis
- Anaemia

Excess:
- Neuropathy

Measure:
- RBC AST Activation

Question 11

What are some consequences of vit B9 (folate) deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 11

Deficiency:
- Megaloblastic anaemia
- Neural tube defect

Measure:
- RBC
- Folate

Question 12

What are some consequences of vit B12 deficiency and how is it measured?

Answer 12

Deficiency:
- Pernicious anaemia
- Sub-acute cord degeneration

Measure:
- Serum B12

Question 13

What are some consequences of vit C deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 13

Deficiency:
- Scurvy

Excess:
- Renal stones

Measure:
- Plasma

Question 14

What are some trace elements found in blood?

Answer 14

• Iron
• Iodine
• Zinc
• Copper
• Fluoride

Question 15

What are some consequences of iron deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 15

Deficiency:
- Hypochromic anaemia

Excess:
- Haemachromatosis

Measure:
- FBC
- Fe + Binding Studies
- Ferritin

Question 16

What are some consequences of iodine deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 16

Deficiency:
- Goitre
- Hypothyroid

Excess:
- Hypo-hyperthyroid (Jod-Basedow/Wolf-Chaicoff effects)

Measure:
- TFT

Question 17

What are some consequences of zinc deficiency?

Answer 17

Dermatitis

Question 18

What are some consequences of copper deficiency or excess and how is it measured?

Answer 18

Deficiency:
- Anaemia

Excess:
- Wilson’s

Measure:
- Copper
- Caeroplasmin

Question 19

What are some consequences of fluoride deficiency or excess?

Answer 19

Deficiency:
- Dental caries

Excess:
- Fluorosis

Question 20

What nutritional deficiencies can be seen in a patient with Crohn’s disease?

Answer 20

• B12 deficiency + Fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK) deficiency
• Folate deficiency in patients on methotrexate
• Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphate + Zinc can be deranged IF high output/chronic diarrhoea

Question 21

What nutritional deficiencies can be seen in a patient with Coeliac disease?

Answer 21

• Iron deficiency
• Vitamins ADEK, thiamine, Vitamin B6

Question 22

What nutritional deficiencies can be seen in a patient with chronic liver disease?

Answer 22

• Vitamins ADEK
• B12
• Selenium
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Folate

Question 23

What nutritional deficiencies can be seen in a patient with Pancreatic insufficiency?

Answer 23

Vitamins ADEK