Micronutrients MCQs With Answer

Micronutrients MCQs With Answer is a focused study resource tailored for B. Pharm students preparing for exams and clinical practice. This concise, keyword-rich introduction covers vitamins and trace minerals, absorption mechanisms, bioavailability, deficiency syndromes, toxicity, enzyme cofactors, pharmacological roles, biomarkers, and drug–nutrient interactions. Answers are provided for rapid self-assessment, enabling targeted revision and improved exam performance. The set emphasizes clinical relevance, laboratory interpretation, fortification strategies, chelation therapy, and public health implications to deepen mechanistic understanding and application in pharmacy. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What are micronutrients?

• Macronutrients like protein and fat
• Vitamins and minerals required in small amounts
• Only water-soluble vitamins
• Only trace metals

Correct Answer: Vitamins and minerals required in small amounts

Q2. Which vitamins are classified as fat-soluble?

• Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6
• Vitamin C and B12
• Vitamin A, D, E, K
• Folate and biotin

Correct Answer: Vitamin A, D, E, K

Q3. Which micronutrient enhances non-heme iron absorption when co-ingested?

• Zinc
• Calcium
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D

Correct Answer: Vitamin C

Q4. Zinc acts as a cofactor for which enzyme?

• Glutathione peroxidase
• Carbonic anhydrase
• Pyruvate dehydrogenase
• Thymidylate synthase

Correct Answer: Carbonic anhydrase

Q5. Absorption of vitamin B12 from the ileum requires which factor?

• Intrinsic factor
• Vitamin C
• Cholecalciferol
• Folic acid

Correct Answer: Intrinsic factor

Q6. Vitamin K is essential for which biochemical modification of clotting factors?

• Phosphorylation
• Methylation
• Gamma-carboxylation
• Hydroxylation

Correct Answer: Gamma-carboxylation

Q7. Iodine is required primarily for synthesis of which hormones?

• Insulin
• Thyroid hormones (T3/T4)
• Glucocorticoids
• Parathyroid hormone

Correct Answer: Thyroid hormones (T3/T4)

Q8. Selenium is an essential component of which antioxidant enzyme?

• Superoxide dismutase
• Catalase
• Glutathione peroxidase
• Monoamine oxidase

Correct Answer: Glutathione peroxidase

Q9. Which vitamin enhances intestinal calcium absorption?

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

Correct Answer: Vitamin D

Q10. What is the primary intracellular iron storage protein?

• Transferrin
• Ferritin
• Hemoglobin
• Myoglobin

Correct Answer: Ferritin

Q11. Elevated methylmalonic acid (MMA) is most indicative of deficiency of which micronutrient?

• Folate
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C

Correct Answer: Vitamin B12

Q12. Copper deficiency commonly presents with which hematologic abnormality?

• Macrocytic anemia
• Sideroblastic anemia
• Microcytic anemia and neutropenia
• Polycythemia

Correct Answer: Microcytic anemia and neutropenia

Q13. RDA in nutrition stands for:

• Required Daily Allocation
• Recommended Dietary Allowance
• Reference Drug Amount
• Relative Dietary Average

Correct Answer: Recommended Dietary Allowance

Q14. Bioavailability of a micronutrient refers to:

• Percentage excreted in urine
• Fraction of ingested nutrient that is absorbed and available for use
• Total amount stored in tissues
• Rate of urinary clearance

Correct Answer: Fraction of ingested nutrient that is absorbed and available for use

Q15. Dietary phytates most strongly reduce absorption of which mineral?

• Potassium
• Zinc
• Sodium
• Fluoride

Correct Answer: Zinc

Q16. The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) defines:

• Minimum daily requirement
• Recommended intake for infants
• Maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse effects
• Therapeutic dose for deficiency

Correct Answer: Maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse effects

Q17. Chronic hypervitaminosis A is commonly associated with which risk?

• Nephrolithiasis
• Teratogenicity and liver toxicity
• Hypoglycemia
• Rickets

Correct Answer: Teratogenicity and liver toxicity

Q18. Hemochromatosis primarily causes accumulation of which micronutrient?

• Copper
• Iron
• Zinc
• Calcium

Correct Answer: Iron

Q19. Which compound is a provitamin A carotenoid?

• Lutein
• Beta-carotene
• Cryptoxanthin
• Retinol

Correct Answer: Beta-carotene

Q20. Which chelating agent is commonly used for lead poisoning?

• Deferoxamine
• EDTA (calcium disodium EDTA)
• Penicillamine
• Vitamin C

Correct Answer: EDTA (calcium disodium EDTA)

Q21. Menkes disease is a genetic disorder of which micronutrient metabolism?

• Iron overload
• Copper deficiency due to ATP7A mutation
• Zinc excess
• Selenium deficiency

Correct Answer: Copper deficiency due to ATP7A mutation

Q22. Wilson disease causes accumulation of which metal in liver and brain?

• Iron
• Copper
• Zinc
• Lead

Correct Answer: Copper

Q23. Chromium is implicated in which physiological process?

• Bone mineralization
• Glucose metabolism and insulin action
• Thyroid hormone synthesis
• Collagen cross-linking

Correct Answer: Glucose metabolism and insulin action

Q24. Fluoride primarily prevents dental caries by:

• Inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis
• Enhancing enamel remineralization and reducing demineralization
• Increasing saliva production
• Acting as an antiseptic

Correct Answer: Enhancing enamel remineralization and reducing demineralization

Q25. Best laboratory marker for assessing overall vitamin D status is:

• 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
• 25-hydroxyvitamin D
• Vitamin D binding protein
• Serum calcium alone

Correct Answer: 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Q26. Pellagra is caused by deficiency of which vitamin?

• Niacin (B3)
• Riboflavin (B2)
• Thiamine (B1)
• Vitamin B12

Correct Answer: Niacin (B3)

Q27. Folate deficiency during early pregnancy increases risk of:

• Cerebral palsy
• Neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida)
• Down syndrome
• Clubfoot

Correct Answer: Neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida)

Q28. Pernicious anemia results from autoimmune destruction of cells that produce:

• Intrinsic factor
• Pepsin
• HCl
• Ghrelin

Correct Answer: Intrinsic factor

Q29. Which vitamin is the main lipid-soluble antioxidant in cell membranes?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)

Q30. Deiodinase enzymes that convert T4 to T3 require which trace element?

• Selenium
• Iron
• Copper
• Zinc

Correct Answer: Selenium

Q31. Which laboratory finding is most sensitive for early iron deficiency?

• Elevated serum iron
• Low serum ferritin
• High hemoglobin
• High MCV

Correct Answer: Low serum ferritin

Q32. Hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia due to excess vitamin intake is most associated with toxicity of:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C

Correct Answer: Vitamin D

Q33. Concomitant administration of which micronutrient reduces absorption of tetracycline antibiotics?

• Vitamin B12
• Calcium
• Vitamin K
• Selenium

Correct Answer: Calcium

Q34. Which vitamin is synthesized by intestinal microbiota and contributes to coagulation?

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Niacin

Correct Answer: Vitamin K

Q35. The best dietary source of heme iron is:

• Spinach
• Red meat (e.g., beef)
• Whole grains
• Legumes

Correct Answer: Red meat (e.g., beef)

Q36. NAD+ is a coenzyme derived from which vitamin?

• Riboflavin (B2)
• Niacin (B3)
• Pyridoxine (B6)
• Biotin

Correct Answer: Niacin (B3)

Q37. Endemic goiter is most often caused by deficiency of which micronutrient?

• Iron
• Iodine
• Calcium
• Magnesium

Correct Answer: Iodine

Q38. Zinc finger domains in transcription factors require zinc primarily for:

• Redox reactions
• DNA binding and structural stability
• Glycosylation
• Membrane transport

Correct Answer: DNA binding and structural stability

Q39. Scurvy results from deficiency of which vitamin and presents with bleeding gums?

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

Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Q40. Which coingested nutrient is recommended to increase non-heme iron absorption in supplements?

• Calcium
• Vitamin C
• Phytate
• Oxalate

Correct Answer: Vitamin C

Q41. Vitamin C is a required cofactor for which enzyme class involved in collagen formation?

• Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases
• Kinases
• Peptidases
• Isomerases

Correct Answer: Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases

Q42. Elevated homocysteine is a biochemical marker of deficiency in which micronutrients?

• Vitamin B12 and folate
• Vitamin C and E
• Iron and copper
• Vitamin A and D

Correct Answer: Vitamin B12 and folate

Q43. Public health recommendation for preventing neural tube defects is supplementation with:

• Vitamin B12 only
• Folic acid (folate)
• Iron only
• Vitamin D

Correct Answer: Folic acid (folate)

Q44. Biotin serves as a coenzyme for which carboxylase enzyme?

• Pyruvate carboxylase
• Hexokinase
• Phosphofructokinase
• Glutathione reductase

Correct Answer: Pyruvate carboxylase

Q45. Which vitamin deficiency impairs prolyl hydroxylase activity and leads to poor wound healing?

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin C

Q46. Chronic iron overload can lead to which tissue condition?

• Osteoporosis
• Hemosiderosis and organ fibrosis
• Rickets
• Scurvy

Correct Answer: Hemosiderosis and organ fibrosis

Q47. Night blindness is an early clinical sign of deficiency of which vitamin?

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12

Correct Answer: Vitamin A

Q48. Zinc plays a structural role in which hormone storage and action mechanism?

• Thyroid hormone synthesis
• Insulin crystallization and storage in pancreatic beta cells
• Glucagon secretion
• Parathyroid hormone formation

Correct Answer: Insulin crystallization and storage in pancreatic beta cells

Q49. Universal salt iodization aims to prevent which condition at the population level?

• Rickets
• Goiter and iodine deficiency disorders
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin D toxicity

Correct Answer: Goiter and iodine deficiency disorders

Q50. Low activity of which enzyme is a functional indicator of selenium deficiency?

• Alcohol dehydrogenase
• Glutathione peroxidase
• Cytochrome c oxidase
• Amylase

Correct Answer: Glutathione peroxidase

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

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