Which form of vitamin B is not found in vegetable food?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Explanation

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) is synthesized only by microorganisms, not by plants or animals.
Consequently, its natural dietary sources are limited to foods of animal origin, such as meat, milk, eggs, and fish.
Plant-based foods, including vegetables, do not naturally contain Vitamin B12 unless they are artificially fortified.

Option A: Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is incorrect because it is commonly found in many plant-based foods.
Option B: Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is incorrect as it is present in various plant sources.
Option C: Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is incorrect because it is widely distributed in the plant kingdom.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional sources of B-complex vitamins, specifically identifying vitamins absent in plant-based diets as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must assess the dietary habits of patients, especially those following strict vegetarian or vegan diets, for the risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Patient education is critical. Nurses should advise at-risk individuals about the importance of consuming B12-fortified foods (like certain cereals, plant milks) or taking supplements to prevent anemia and irreversible neurological damage.
What if? If a strict vegan patient presents with symptoms of fatigue and paresthesia (tingling in hands/feet), the nurse should recognize these as potential signs of B12 deficiency and ensure this concern is communicated for prompt investigation, which may include a serum B12 level test.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: which vitamin is missing from a specific food group (vegetables).
Note the negative keyword 'not', which is crucial. You are looking for the exception among the options.
Recall the dietary sources for each B vitamin listed.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Think grains, nuts.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Think dairy, leafy greens.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Think a wide variety of foods, including vegetables.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional sources of B-complex vitamins, specifically identifying vitamins absent in plant-based diets.
Stem keywords: vitamin B, not found, vegetable food
Lead-in keywords: Which, not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks to identify the vitamin that is NOT found in a specific food source.

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E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 1 (pp 26-420 of 840) p. 140-142

E6 One Stop Resource all for your Exam Needs in Biochemistry (pp 6-135 of 140) p. 81-83

E6 textbook of Applied Biochemistry and Nutrition & DieteticsHarbans Lal (pp 26-464 of 479) p. 288-290

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

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