Defective bone mineralization disorder called Rickets is caused by the deficiency of which vitamin?

CGHS SSC - 2018

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

Rickets is a disorder characterized by the defective mineralization of growing bones in children, making them soft and pliable.
This condition is primarily caused by a deficiency of Vitamin D, which is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine.
Without adequate Vitamin D, the body cannot maintain proper calcium and phosphate levels, leading to impaired bone development and the characteristic skeletal deformities of rickets.

Option A: Vitamin A deficiency is primarily associated with vision problems, such as night blindness and xerophthalmia, and impaired immune function, not bone mineralization.
Option B: Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and its deficiency is rare. It can lead to neurological problems and hemolytic anemia but is not linked to rickets.
Option C: The Vitamin B group consists of several different vitamins, each with unique functions. Their deficiencies cause various conditions like beriberi (B1), pellagra (B3), or pernicious anemia (B12), none of which is rickets.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain The role of vitamins in metabolic processes and deficiency diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating parents about the importance of Vitamin D, especially for exclusively breastfed infants who require supplementation.
During pediatric assessments, nurses should look for early signs of rickets, such as skeletal deformities (bowed legs, swollen joints), delayed growth, and muscle weakness.
What if? If the patient was an adult presenting with diffuse bone pain, muscle weakness, and a history of fractures with minor trauma, the diagnosis would more likely be osteomalacia, the adult counterpart to rickets, also caused by Vitamin D deficiency.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem, which is 'Rickets' and its description as a 'defective bone mineralization disorder'.
The question asks for the specific vitamin deficiency that causes this condition.
Systematically review the primary functions of each vitamin listed in the options.
Recall that Vitamin D's main role is in calcium and phosphate metabolism, which is fundamental for bone health.
Contrast this with Vitamin A (vision), Vitamin E (antioxidant), and Vitamin B complex (metabolism, nerve function, blood cell formation).
Conclude that the only vitamin directly responsible for bone mineralization among the choices is Vitamin D.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: The role of vitamins in metabolic processes and deficiency diseases.
Stem keywords: Rickets, defective bone mineralization, deficiency, vitamin
Lead-in keywords: caused by

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