Vitamin Deficiencies
| Vitamin | Deficiency Disease | Key Feature |
|---------|-------------------|-------------|
| A | Night blindness | XN classification |
| B1 (Thiamine) | Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff | Dry/wet beriberi |
| B3 (Niacin) | Pellagra | 3 Ds: Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia |
| B12 | SCDD, megaloblastic anemia | Subacute combined degeneration |
| C | Scurvy | Bleeding gums, perifollicular hemorrhage |
| D | Rickets, Osteomalacia | Low Ca, PTH elevated |
| K | Bleeding diathesis | Prolonged PT |
Mineral Disorders
Iron deficiency anemia (microcytic), B12/folate deficiency (megaloblastic), Zinc deficiency (acrodermatitis enteropathica), Selenium deficiency (Keshan disease).
Malnutrition Syndromes
Marasmus: calorie deficiency, wasted appearance. Kwashiorkor: protein deficiency, edema, fatty liver, skin changes (flaky paint).
Key RDA Values
Iron: 15-20 mg/day. Calcium: 1000 mg/day. Protein: 0.8-1g/kg/day.
References & further reading
Every clinical claim in this article is anchored to a primary source. Click through to verify, and use the same habit in your revision.
Revision history
- 19 September 2026 — Initial publication
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important vitamin deficiencies to know?
Vitamin A (night blindness), B1/Thiamine (beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff), B3/Niacin (pellagra - 3Ds), B6 (sideroblastic anemia), B12 (subacute combined degeneration), C (scurvy), D (rickets), K (bleeding).
How are nutritional topics tested in UPSC CMS?
Direct questions about deficiency diseases, the RDA values for key nutrients, and clinical scenarios of malnutrition (marasmus vs kwashiorkor).
Is nutrition important for NEET PG?
Yes — nutrition is part of Biochemistry and PSM in NEET PG. Questions test deficiency syndromes, vitamin functions, and public nutrition programs.
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