Which vitamin deficiency is most likely to impair night vision?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Solution: The correct answer is Vitamin A.
Explanation:
☛ Vitamin A (chemical name: Retinol) is essential for maintaining healthy vision, immune function, and cell growth.
☛ It is an integral component of rhodopsin, a light-sensitive pigment protein found in the retina that helps the eye perceive light in dim or dark conditions.
☛ A deficiency of Vitamin A leads to nyctalopia (commonly known as night blindness), where a person struggles to see in low-light environments.
☛ Severe and prolonged deficiency can progress to xerophthalmia, a condition characterized by dry corneas that can lead to permanent blindness.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Its deficiency causes scurvy, which leads to bleeding gums, skin spots, and impaired wound healing.
☛ Vitamin D (Calciferol): Deficiency results in rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults due to poor calcium absorption.
☛ Vitamin K (Phylloquinone): Plays a vital role in blood coagulation; its deficiency causes excessive bleeding and delayed clotting time.
☛ Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the body's fatty tissues and liver.
☛ Water-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins B-complex and C dissolve in water and are readily excreted from the body.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which pigment in the human retina requires Vitamin A for its synthesis? → Rhodopsin
☛ What are the prominent dietary sources rich in Vitamin A? → Carrots, spinach, papaya, and fish liver oil
☛ Which vitamin is synthesized in the human skin through sunlight exposure? → Vitamin D
☛ Which vitamin deficiency causes the bleeding disease known as Scurvy? → Vitamin C
☛ Which vitamin is primarily required for the synthesis of prothrombin in the liver? → Vitamin K