Which one of the following diseases may be caused by the deficiency of vitamin C?
- (a)Rickets
- (b)Rabies
- (c)Hepatitis
- (d)Scurvy
Correct — D, Scurvy. Scurvy is the classic deficiency disease of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, so its lack weakens connective tissue - producing swollen, bleeding gums, loose teeth, slow wound healing and joint pain. Citrus fruits and amla, which are rich in vitamin C, prevent it.
- (a)Rickets — Rickets is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D (and of calcium/phosphorus), which softens and bends children's bones - not by vitamin C.
- (b)Rabies — Rabies is a VIRAL disease transmitted by an infected animal's bite; it has nothing to do with vitamin deficiency.
- (c)Hepatitis — Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, usually caused by viruses (hepatitis A-E) - it is not a vitamin-deficiency disease.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin needed for collagen synthesis, wound healing and better iron absorption. Its deficiency causes scurvy. Rich sources include citrus fruits, amla (Indian gooseberry), guava and green vegetables.
Only one option is a deficiency disease; rabies and hepatitis are infections, so they can be dropped at once. Rickets is a deficiency disease too, but of vitamin D - so it is the tempting trap. Vitamin C's own deficiency disease is scurvy.
- Vitamin C = ascorbic acid, a water-soluble vitamin; its deficiency causes scurvy.
- Scurvy symptoms: bleeding / spongy gums, loose teeth, slow wound healing and joint pain.
- Vitamin C is required for collagen synthesis and aids the absorption of iron.
- Rich sources: citrus fruits (orange, lemon), amla (Indian gooseberry), guava, tomatoes and green leafy vegetables.
- Mixing up the vitamin-disease pairs - vitamin C = scurvy, D = rickets, A = night blindness, B1 = beriberi.
- Assuming a 'disease' option like rabies or hepatitis is deficiency-related - those are infections.
Vitamins are asked as 'deficiency disease of vitamin X' or as match-the-pairs - learn the vitamin-disease table.
Consider the following pairs (Vitamin : Deficiency disease): 1. Vitamin C : Scurvy; 2. Vitamin D : Rickets; 3. Vitamin E : Night blindness. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) None
Answer(a) 1 and 2 only - Vitamin C:Scurvy and Vitamin D:Rickets are correct; night blindness is a Vitamin A deficiency.
UPSC 2014 tests the same vitamin-deficiency pairing, including the exact Vitamin C : Scurvy link asked here.
Which one among the following diseases is caused due to deficiency of Vitamin D in humans?
- (a) Beriberi
- (b) Scurvy
- (c) Rickets
- (d) Pneumonia
Answer(c) Rickets
Companion NDA item on vitamin-deficiency diseases - here vitamin D and rickets, the classic trap option in this question.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Bleeding gums and slow wound healing are symptoms of the deficiency of
- (a)Vitamin A
- (b)Vitamin C
- (c)Vitamin D
- (d)Vitamin K
Answer(b) Vitamin C - the deficiency disease is scurvy.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which one of the following is a particularly rich natural source of vitamin C?
- (a)Milk
- (b)Rice
- (c)Amla (Indian gooseberry)
- (d)Egg
Answer(c) Amla - one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C.