Vitamins & Minerals Quiz

1. Which vitamin is produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight, and deficiency in it is extremely common worldwide?

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

2. Scurvy is caused by deficiency of which vitamin?

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

3. Which mineral is the most abundant in the human body and is essential for strong bones and teeth?

1. Calcium
2. Iron
3. Phosphorus
4. Potassium

4. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. What condition does it cause?

1. Beri-beri
2. Iron-deficiency anaemia
3. Pellagra
4. Rickets

5. Which B vitamin deficiency during pregnancy is strongly linked to neural tube defects like spina bifida in babies?

1. Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
2. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
3. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
4. Vitamin B9 (folate/folic acid)

6. Vitamin B12 deficiency is particularly common in which group of people?

1. Athletes who overtrain
2. Children under the age of 10
3. People who eat too much red meat
4. Strict vegans and vegetarians

7. Which fat-soluble vitamin is essential for blood clotting and is found in leafy green vegetables?

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

8. Which mineral is essential for thyroid hormone production, and which common food has been fortified with it to prevent deficiency?

1. Iodine — fortified in table salt (iodised salt)
2. Magnesium — fortified in orange juice
3. Selenium — fortified in breakfast cereals
4. Zinc — fortified in milk

9. Vitamin A is essential for vision, especially in low light. What condition results from severe vitamin A deficiency?

1. Cataracts
2. Colour blindness
3. Macular degeneration
4. Night blindness and ultimately total blindness

10. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Which of the following is NOT a known role of magnesium?

1. Blood sugar regulation
2. Directly building haemoglobin in red blood cells
3. Energy production (ATP synthesis)
4. Muscle and nerve function

11. The fat-soluble vitamins are stored in body fat and can build up to toxic levels if taken in excess. Which group are they?

1. A, B, C, D
2. A, D, E, K
3. B6, B12, D, E
4. C, D, E, K

12. Zinc is an important trace mineral. Which function is zinc most known for supporting?

1. Carrying fat-soluble vitamins through the bloodstream
2. Immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis
3. Maintaining fluid balance in cells
4. Oxygen transport in the blood

13. Which vitamin is found almost exclusively in citrus fruits, berries, peppers, and broccoli, and acts as an antioxidant?

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

14. Pellagra is a disease caused by deficiency of which B vitamin?

1. B1 (thiamine)
2. B2 (riboflavin)
3. B3 (niacin)
4. B5 (pantothenic acid)

15. Potassium is an essential electrolyte. What is its primary role in the body?

1. Carrying oxygen in red blood cells
2. Forming the hard mineral matrix of bones and teeth
3. Maintaining fluid balance inside cells and supporting nerve and muscle function, including heart rhythm
4. Producing stomach acid for digestion

16. Which vitamin is unique in that it can be synthesised by bacteria in the human gut in small amounts, though dietary sources are still essential?

1. Vitamin B7 (biotin)
2. Vitamin B9 (folate)
3. Vitamin D
4. Vitamin K

17. What does 'fortified' mean on a food label, and why is it done?

1. Nutrients (vitamins or minerals) have been added to the food that were not originally present or were depleted during processing
2. The food has been enhanced with extra protein or fibre
3. The food has been grown organically without pesticides
4. The food has been processed to remove harmful substances

18. Which mineral works closely with vitamin D to maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis?

1. Calcium
2. Iron
3. Selenium
4. Zinc

19. Antioxidant vitamins are thought to protect cells from oxidative damage. Which of the following vitamins are considered the main dietary antioxidants?

1. A, B6, and B12
2. B3, B9, and K
3. C, E, and beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A)
4. D, K, and B2

20. Selenium is an essential trace mineral that functions primarily as what?

1. A cofactor for haemoglobin production in red blood cells
2. A component of antioxidant enzymes (selenoproteins) that protect cells from oxidative damage
3. A structural component of bones and teeth
4. An electrolyte that regulates fluid balance