Question

Deficiency of vitamin E causes?
A. rickets
B. scurvy
C. muscular weakness
D. beri beri

Answer 1

Hint: Vitamin E is a group of eight fat soluble compounds which include four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Deficiency means the lack or insufficient amount of any substance. Vitamin E deficiency is rare and usually due to an underlying problem with digesting dietary fat rather than from a diet low in vitamin E.

Complete step by step answer:
- Vitamin E has antioxidant qualities that keeps the body’s immune system strong. It occurs naturally in various foods such as nuts and seeds, whole grains, leafy vegetables, mango and many more.
- Vitamin E deficiency is caused when nutrients are not properly digested or absorbed. This includes Crohn's disease, liver disease, and rare genetic disorders. Vitamin E deficiency may also be caused by a very low-fat diet.
The outcomes of deficiency of Vitamin E are-
(1) It may cause nerves problems due to poor conduction of electrical impulses along nerves due to changes in nerve membrane’s structure and function.
(2) Vitamin E helps in maintaining the integrity of red cell membrane by preventing oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its deficiency is related to anaemia due to reduced RBCs lifespan due to increased vulnerability to free-radical-induced RBCs. It causes increased fragility of RBCs and muscular weakness in the body.

The correct answer of this question is option (c) which says deficiency of vitamin E causes muscular weakness.

Additional Information:
The symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency are:
(1) facing difficulty in walking or coordination
(2) having muscle pain or weakness
(3) facing visual disturbances

Note:
Fat-soluble vitamins remain in the body as they are lyophobic substances. But water-soluble vitamins are excreted out with water, so water soluble vitamins must be supplied regularly in diet.