Question

Deficiency of EFA causes
A. Follicular keratosis
B. Kidney failure
C. Sterility
D. All the above

Answer 1

Hint: Linoleate and linolenate are two essential fatty acids (EFAs). Symptoms of EFAs deficiency include poor growth and development in infants and children, dry rashes, poor wound healing and highly susceptible to infection. Even small amounts of EFAs rich in diet can prevent EFA deficiency. EFAs rich diet includes salmon, tuna, vegetable oils, nuts, and leafy vegetables.

Complete answer:
Animals cannot synthesize two fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids), which are therefore, called essential fatty acids. The term "essential fatty acids" means fatty acids required for biological processes.
EFAs must be obtained from diet because they are required by organisms for maintaining good health but they cannot synthesize them inside their body. Fatty acids that can be synthesized endogenously are termed as "nonessential fatty acids". They are non essential because they do not have to obligatorily include in the diet.
Essential fatty acids deficiency is very rare. It mostly occurs in infants fed with diet low in EFAs. It has also been found to occur in patients with cystic fibrosis and patients with chronic poor absorption.
Deficiency of EFA causes follicular keratosis (excessive development of keratin in hair follicles, which block hair follicles and cause bumps to develop), thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count), scaly dermatitis, kidney failure (Kidneys lose the ability to sufficiently filter waste from your blood) and sterility (infertility).

So from the above discussion, it is clear that the correct option is D. All the above.

Note:
EFAs are essential for the following processes:-
> For proper functioning of the brain and nervous system.
> For formation of healthy cell membranes.
> For regulation of blood pressure, proper functioning of liver and immune responses.
> For regulation of blood clotting.
> For hormone production and proper functioning of thyroid and adrenal activity.