The anti-sterility vitamin is known as?

AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2018

Explanation

Vitamin E is widely known as the 'anti-sterility' or 'anti-infertility' vitamin due to its crucial role in reproductive functions.
Its chemical name, Tocopherol, is derived from the Greek words 'tokos' (childbirth) and 'pherein' (to bear), directly referencing its importance in reproduction.
As a potent antioxidant, Vitamin E protects cell membranes from damage and helps maintain the germinal epithelium of the gonads, which is essential for producing healthy sperm and ova.

Option B: Vitamin A (Retinol) is primarily known as the 'anti-infective' vitamin and is essential for vision, immune function, and cellular growth. Its deficiency leads to conditions like night blindness and xerophthalmia, not sterility.
Option C: Vitamin D (Calciferol) is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' or 'anti-rachitic vitamin'. Its main function is to regulate calcium and phosphate metabolism, which is critical for bone health. Deficiency causes rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.
Option D: Vitamin B is not a single vitamin but a complex of eight different water-soluble vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12). They are primarily involved in cell metabolism, energy production, and nerve function. No single B vitamin is known as the 'anti-sterility' vitamin.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Vitamins and their descriptive names/functions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a vital role in nutritional counseling. Knowing the specific functions of vitamins helps in educating patients, particularly those with specific health goals like family planning or managing chronic diseases.
Assessing a patient's diet can provide clues to potential vitamin deficiencies. For instance, a diet low in vegetable oils and nuts might suggest a risk for Vitamin E deficiency.
What if? If a patient on long-term antibiotic therapy shows signs of easy bruising and prolonged bleeding time, the nurse should suspect a deficiency in Vitamin K (anti-hemorrhagic vitamin), not Vitamin E. This is because intestinal bacteria that synthesize Vitamin K can be suppressed by antibiotics.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of vitamin nomenclature and functions.
First, identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'anti-sterility vitamin'.
Next, systematically review the options and recall the primary function or common name associated with each vitamin.
Recall that Vitamin E (Tocopherol) is historically linked to reproductive health and is called the anti-sterility factor.
Eliminate the other options by confirming their primary roles: Vitamin A for vision, Vitamin D for bone health, and Vitamin B complex for metabolism.
Select the option that directly matches the key phrase from the question.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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