A nurse must be aware that eating maize alone may lead to?

Appeared in: NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Explanation

Pellagra is caused by a deficiency of niacin (Vitamin B₃).
Maize (corn) is a poor source of available niacin and its precursor, the amino acid tryptophan.
The niacin in maize is in a bound form (niacytin) that is poorly absorbed unless treated with an alkali.
The classic symptoms of Pellagra are known as the '3 Ds': Dermatitis, Diarrhea, and Dementia.

Option A: Beri-beri is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (Vitamin B₁), not niacin.
Option C: Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin C.
Option D: Phrynoderma ('toad skin') is a sign of Vitamin A deficiency.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Nutritional Deficiencies from Staple Diets helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
A nurse must be able to conduct a nutritional assessment and identify at-risk populations, such as those with monotonous diets based on staples like maize.
Patient education is a key nursing role. This includes advising on dietary diversification by adding legumes, pulses, and animal proteins to a maize-based diet to prevent pellagra.
Early recognition of the signs of pellagra (especially the characteristic dermatitis) allows for prompt intervention with niacin supplementation and dietary changes, preventing progression to severe neurological damage.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is linking a specific food (maize) to a nutritional deficiency disease.
Recall or deduce the primary nutritional weakness of maize. Recognize that it is deficient in available niacin and its precursor, tryptophan.
Connect this specific deficiency (niacin) to its corresponding disease, which is Pellagra.
Evaluate the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Link Beri-beri to thiamine/rice, Scurvy to Vitamin C/fruits, and Phrynoderma to Vitamin A.
Select the option that correctly matches the maize-niacin deficiency link.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QHSy_xl6ESA_Q0iJOkSWaJ

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 734-736

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 154-156

E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & DieteticsHarbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 365-367

Practise the full NCL (MP) Nursing Officer - 2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.