Vitamin deficiency syndromes

Question 1

What does VitA deficiency cause?

Answer 1

Xerophthalmia (spectrum of ocular disease)

Question 2

What does VitB1 (thiamine) deficiency cause?

Answer 2

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

Question 3

What does VitB2 deficiency cause?

Answer 3

Angular stomatitis

Question 4

What does VitB12 deficiency cause (2)?

Answer 4

Macrocytic anaemia, glossitis

Question 5

What does VitC deficiency cause, and name 2 ways this may present

Answer 5

Scurvy
- Bleeding gums
- Easy bruising
- Anaemia
- Joint pain

Question 6

What does VitD deficiency cause (2)?

Answer 6

Ricketts, osteomalacia

Question 7

What does VitK deficiency cause?

Answer 7

Bleeding disorders

Question 8

What does VitB3 deficiency cause?

Answer 8

Pellagra (niacin deficiency)

Question 9

What does iron deficiency cause?

Answer 9

Microcytic anaemia

Question 10

What does zinc deficiency cause?

Answer 10

Poor wound healing

Question 11

What does copper deficiency cause?

Answer 11

Menke’s syndrome

Question 12

What does iodine deficiency cause (2)?

Answer 12

Goitre, cretinism

Question 13

Name a feature of pellagra

Answer 13

• Cognitive deficit - dementia and delusions
• Sunburn like dermatitis rash
• Diarrhoea

Question 14

1) Beriberi is due to a deficiency of what vitamin, and what are the 2 subtypes of beriberi, and name a way each will present
2) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a subtype of what type of beriberi?

Answer 14

1) Thiamine (Vit B1) - wet (tachypnea, dyspnoea and ankle oedema) and dry beriberi (pain, confusion and paraesthesia
2) Dry