Question

Match the following vitamins with deficiency diseases.

Sl.No	Vitamin	Deficiency disease
1	Vitamin A	Scurvy
2	Vitamin $B_1$	Rickets
3	Vitamin C	Nyctalopia
4	Vitamin D	Beri-Beri

Answer 1

Hint: The deficiency of specific vitamins can cause different types of problems. A vitamin deficiency occurs when one does not get enough of a certain vitamin.

Complete answer:
- Vitamins are a group of substances required for normal cell activity, growth and development. There are 13 vitamins - A, C, D, E, K and B vitamins. Each of these vitamins performs unique roles in the body.

- Vitamin A helps to form and maintain healthy teeth, muscles, soft tissues, mucous membranes, and skin. Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness or nyctalopia where a person is unable to see well at night or in poor light. Foods such as fish, dark leafy greens, beans, vegetables, meat, mushrooms, berries, eggs and fruit are rich sources of vitamins.

- Vitamin $B_1$ is also called thiamin. Thiamine is an important nutrient that all body tissues require to function properly. The body requires thiamine to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Deficiency of thiamine can cause Beri-Beri.

- Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that supports healthy teeth and gums. It allows the body to absorb iron and preserve healthy tissue, and helps in wound healing. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, characterised by general fatigue, anaemia, gingivitis etc.

- Vitamin D allows the body to absorb calcium. Calcium is one of the major bone basic minerals. Lack of vitamin D can lead to bone disorders such as osteoporosis or rickets. Vitamin D also plays a role in the nervous, muscle, and immune systems.

The correct match for the following vitamin deficiency diseases is:

Sl.No	Vitamin	Deficiency disease
1	Vitamin A	Nyctalopia
2	Vitamin $B_1$	Beri-Beri
3	Vitamin C	Scurvy
4	Vitamin D	Rickets

Note: Vitamins have various functions in the body. They help prevent infection, and provide energy from food or help blood to clot properly. Vitamin deficiency conditions develop when the body is deprived of any group of vitamins.