Food and nutrition in relation to health MCQs With Answer

Introduction

Food and nutrition are fundamental to health, pharmacotherapy and patient outcomes. This concise guide for B. Pharm students covers macronutrients, micronutrients, energy balance, metabolism, deficiency syndromes, dietary requirements, nutrient–drug interactions and clinical nutrition principles. Emphasis is placed on biochemical roles of vitamins and minerals, pathways of absorption and metabolism, indicators of nutritional status, enteral and parenteral feeding, and implications for drug therapy and public health. Understanding nutrient functions, RDA, glycemic index, antioxidants and therapeutic nutrition supports rational patient counselling and safe medication management. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which macronutrient provides approximately 9 kcal per gram?

• Carbohydrate (4 kcal/g)
• Protein (4 kcal/g)
• Fat (9 kcal/g)
• Alcohol (7 kcal/g)

Correct Answer: Fat (9 kcal/g)

Q2. Which of the following is an essential amino acid that must be obtained from the diet?

• Alanine
• Glycine
• Lysine
• Glutamine

Correct Answer: Lysine

Q3. Which vitamin is primarily stored in the liver and adipose tissue and can accumulate to toxic levels?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2

Correct Answer: Vitamin A

Q4. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is best described as:

• The minimum amount of a nutrient to prevent deficiency in 50% of the population
• The average daily intake to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals
• The maximum safe intake for the general population
• The amount recommended for weight loss

Correct Answer: The average daily intake to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals

Q5. Absorption of non-heme iron from plant sources is enhanced by which dietary component?

• Phytates
• Calcium
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Tannins

Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Q6. Deficiency of which vitamin causes beriberi, characterized by neuropathy and cardiac symptoms?

• Niacin (B3)
• Thiamine (B1)
• Riboflavin (B2)
• Pyridoxine (B6)

Correct Answer: Thiamine (B1)

Q7. Which lipoprotein class is primarily responsible for transporting dietary triglycerides from the intestine to peripheral tissues?

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
• Chylomicrons
• Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)

Correct Answer: Chylomicrons

Q8. Which of the following foods has a low glycemic index and produces a slower postprandial glucose rise?

• White bread
• Baked potato
• Lentils
• Glucose syrup

Correct Answer: Lentils

Q9. Folate is essential for which biochemical process important in rapidly dividing cells?

• Fatty acid β-oxidation
• Protein glycosylation
• DNA synthesis and methylation reactions
• Oxidative phosphorylation

Correct Answer: DNA synthesis and methylation reactions

Q10. Which nutrient deficiency is classically associated with megaloblastic anemia and neurologic impairment due to impaired myelin synthesis?

• Vitamin C
• Iron
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Q11. High dietary intake of which vitamin can antagonize the anticoagulant effect of warfarin?

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Correct Answer: Vitamin K

Q12. Which laboratory measurement best reflects long-term glycemic control over 2–3 months?

• Fasting plasma glucose
• Random blood glucose
• HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)
• Oral glucose tolerance test 2-hour value

Correct Answer: HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)

Q13. Refeeding syndrome in severely malnourished patients is primarily characterized by a dangerous drop in which electrolyte?

• Calcium
• Phosphate (hypophosphatemia)
• Sodium
• Magnesium

Correct Answer: Phosphate (hypophosphatemia)

Q14. A body mass index (BMI) of 32 kg/m2 is classified as which category?

• Normal weight
• Overweight
• Obesity (Class I)
• Underweight

Correct Answer: Obesity (Class I)

Q15. Which vitamin can regenerate oxidized vitamin E, acting as an important water-soluble antioxidant partner?

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Q16. Which fatty acid is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that must be obtained from the diet?

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
• Arachidonic acid

Correct Answer: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

Q17. Lactose intolerance results from deficiency of which intestinal enzyme?

• Sucrose
• Lactase (β-galactosidase)
• Maltase
• Sucrase-isomaltase

Correct Answer: Lactase (β-galactosidase)

Q18. Which vitamin is a required cofactor for proline and lysine hydroxylation during collagen synthesis?

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E

Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Q19. Which dietary source predominantly provides heme iron with higher bioavailability?

• Spinach
• Lentils
• Beef (red meat)
• Fortified breakfast cereal

Correct Answer: Beef (red meat)

Q20. Which endocrine disorder typically increases basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure?

• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Hypopituitarism

Correct Answer: Hyperthyroidism

Q21. Which trace element is most important for immune function, wound healing and DNA synthesis?

• Lead
• Zinc
• Mercury
• Aluminum

Correct Answer: Zinc

Q22. Night blindness and xerophthalmia are classical signs of deficiency of which vitamin?

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D

Correct Answer: Vitamin A

Q23. Hypervitaminosis D commonly results in which metabolic disturbance?

• Hypocalcemia
• Hypercalcemia
• Hypophosphatemia
• Hyponatremia

Correct Answer: Hypercalcemia

Q24. Which dietary component lowers serum cholesterol by binding bile acids in the intestine?

• Saturated fat
• Soluble dietary fiber (e.g., psyllium)
• Trans fat
• Simple sugars

Correct Answer: Soluble dietary fiber (e.g., psyllium)

Q25. The primary hepatic enzyme responsible for the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde at usual drinking levels is:

• Catalase
• Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)
• Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
• Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)

Correct Answer: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)

Q26. Which vitamin is directly required for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine as methylcobalamin?

• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Vitamin C
• Niacin (B3)

Correct Answer: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Q27. Which trace element is a component of cytochrome c oxidase and important for electron transport?

• Zinc
• Iron
• Copper
• Selenium

Correct Answer: Copper

Q28. Compared to parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition is preferred primarily because it:

• Is more likely to cause bloodstream infections
• Bypasses the gut and reduces gut workload
• Maintains gut mucosal integrity and lowers infection risk
• Provides higher caloric density per ml

Correct Answer: Maintains gut mucosal integrity and lowers infection risk

Q29. Which dietary component is most strongly associated with raising low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol?

• Monounsaturated fats
• Polyunsaturated fats
• Saturated fatty acids
• Dietary fiber

Correct Answer: Saturated fatty acids

Q30. Which circulating protein is the best marker for recent (short-term) changes in nutritional protein status?

• Serum albumin
• C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Prealbumin (transthyretin)
• Total lymphocyte count

Correct Answer: Prealbumin (transthyretin)

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