Vitamins, Deficiency Diseases, Classification, Scientific Names and MCQs

This article is about vitamins, their deficiency diseases, classification, scientific names. At the end, we have also given you some important MCQs on the topic to make your concepts stronger.

Also Check: MCQs on general science

What are vitamins?

The organic compounds that are required in small amounts in the diet to maintain normal metabolic functions are known as ‘Vitamins’.

Most of the vitamins cannot be synthesized in our body but plants can synthesize almost all of them, so they are considered as essential food factors.

However, the bacteria of the gut can produce some of the vitamins required by us.

The earlier name of vitamin was vitamine, which itself was coined in 1912 as a combination of the words “vital” and “amine” by Polish biochemist Casimir Funk. The term vitamine was changed to vitamin when it was found that all vitamins are not amines. Casimir Funk is credited to have discovered the vitamins.

Many vitamins act as (or) are converted into coenzymes; they neither provide energy nor are incorporated into tissues. Coenzymes are organic nonprotein molecules that bind with the protein molecule (apoenzyme) to form the active enzyme (holoenzyme).

These also regulate the Bio-chemical processes in the body.

Classification of Vitamins

We generally divide vitamins into two categories based upon their solubility. The two categories are:

  1. Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). These are found in abundance in liver cells and in adipose tissues.
  2. Water soluble vitamins (C, B-complex). These are present in much smaller amounts in cells. Water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly in diet because they are readily excreted in urine and cannot be stored (except vitamin B12) in our body

Vitamin Deficiency Diseases

VitaminScientific NameDefeciency
Vitamin ARetinolNight blindness
Vitamin B1ThiamineBeri-beri
Vitamin B2RiboflavinRetarded growth, bad skin
Vitamin B3Niacinpellagra. Pellagra includes the triad of dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea 
Vitamin B5Pantothenic Acidfatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, vomiting, stomach pains
Vitamin B6Pyridoxineperipheral neuropathy, seborrheic dermatitis, glossitis, and cheilosis, and, in adults, depression, confusion, and seizures.
Vitamin B7Biotinalopecia and scaly erythematous dermatitis
Vitamin B9Folic Acidfolate-deficiency anemia, Birth defects innew born baby if mother has defeciency
Vitamin B12CobalaminAnaemia
Vitamin CAscorbic acidScurvy
Vitamin DCalciferolRickets/Osteomalacia
Vitamin EtocopherolNerve and Muscle damages
Vitamin KPhylloquinoneExcessive bleeding due to injury

MCQs on Vitamins For Competitive Exams JKSSB, NEET


  1. They provide energy to the body.
  2. They act as the store house of energy.
  3. They protect and insulate our body organs.
  4. They help in maintaing good bones and in boosting immunity.

They help in maintaing good bones and in boosting immunity.


  1. Vitamin A poisoning
  2. Vitamin B poisoning
  3. Vitamin K poisoning
  4. Vitamin E poisoning

Vitamin A Poisoning


  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin B
  3. Vitamin D
  4. Vitamin K

Vitamin B. Vitamins A, D, E, K are fat souluble and you can remember them as FADEK.


  1. Beri Beri
  2. Scurvy
  3. Osteomalacia
  4. Excessive bleeding.

Beri Beri


  1. Ascorbic acid
  2. phylloquinone
  3. Tocopherol
  4. Retinol

Phylloquinone


  1. Thiamine
  2. Biotin
  3. Folic acid
  4. Cobalamin

Thiamine


  1. Co enzymes
  2. Halo enzymes
  3. Apo enzymes
  4. Co factors

Co enzymes


  1. It is also known as Sunshine Vitamin
  2. It is necessary for Calcium absorption.
  3. It is known as Calciferol.
  4. It a water soluble vitamin.
  5. Its defeciency can lead to rickets.

“It is a water soluble vitamin” is a wrong statement about Vitamin D.


  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin B
  3. Vitamin C
  4. Vitamin D

Vitamin B


  1. Vitamin B1
  2. Vitamin B3
  3. Vitamin B9
  4. Vitamin B7

Vitamin B9. Vitamin B9 is also known as Folic Acid and it is given to all the pregnant women in their earlier months of pregnancy to prevent the birth defects in a baby.


  1. Vitamin B1
  2. Vitamin B3
  3. Vitamin B9
  4. Vitamin B7

Vitamin B7


  1. It is also known as Pyridoxine.
  2. It is also known as “beauty” vitamin.
  3. It is a fat soluble vitamin.
  4. Its defeciency leads to muscle and nerve damages.

“It is also known as Pyridoxine” is a wrong statement about Vitamin E


  1. Vitamins A and K
  2. Vitamins B and K
  3. Vitamins E and K
  4. Vitamins A and B

Vitamins B and K


  1. Pregnant Women
  2. Malnourished children
  3. Covid patients
  4. heavy drinkers and smokers

Heavy drinkers and smokers


  1. Casimir Funk
  2. William Harvey
  3. Ronald Fischer
  4. Carl Linnaeus

Casimir Funk


  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin D
  3. Vitamin E
  4. Vitamin K

Vitamin D


  1. Vitamin B1
  2. Vitamin C
  3. Vitamin B9
  4. Vitamin A

Vitamin C.Vitamin C helps in formation of Collagen protein, which in turn helps in healing of wounds


  1. Vitamin B5
  2. Vitamin B12
  3. Vitamin B6
  4. Vitamin C

Vitamin B12


  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin B12
  3. Vitamin B6
  4. Vitamin C

Vitamin A. Golden rice is a variety of rice developed through genetic enginerring


  1. Niacin
  2. Thyroxine
  3. Riboflavin
  4. Pyridoxine

Thyroxine is not a vitamin. Niacin =vitamin B5, Riboflavin = Vitamin B2, Pyridoxine = Vitamin B6


  1. Vitamin A
  2. Vitamin B
  3. Vitamin D
  4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C


These were details about vitamins, vitamin deficiency diseases, their classification and scientific Names. We hope that you will share them with your friends.

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