Which vitamin deficiency is correctly matched with its nutrient source and disease?

Which vitamin deficiency is correctly matched with its nutrient source and disease?

• A. Thiamine (B1)—whole grains; beriberi
• B. Vitamin E—plant tissues; osteomalacia
• C. Niacin—meat; scurvy
• D. Folic acid—dairy products; myelin formation

Answer: (A)

Understanding how vitamins relate to diseases and their dietary sources helps you connect what you eat with possible health effects. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is found in whole grains and other foods, and its deficiency leads to beriberi, a condition marked by weakness, neuropathy, and, in severe cases, heart problems. The other pairings don’t fit the facts: vitamin E isn’t linked to osteomalacia (that disease results from vitamin D deficiency and impaired bone mineralization); niacin is associated with pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia), not scurvy; and folic acid is abundant in leafy greens and fortified foods—not dairy—and while folate is important for DNA synthesis, myelin formation is mainly dependent on vitamin B12.

Understanding how vitamins relate to diseases and their dietary sources helps you connect what you eat with possible health effects. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is found in whole grains and other foods, and its deficiency leads to beriberi, a condition marked by weakness, neuropathy, and, in severe cases, heart problems. The other pairings don’t fit the facts: vitamin E isn’t linked to osteomalacia (that disease results from vitamin D deficiency and impaired bone mineralization); niacin is associated with pellagra (dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia), not scurvy; and folic acid is abundant in leafy greens and fortified foods—not dairy—and while folate is important for DNA synthesis, myelin formation is mainly dependent on vitamin B12.