Nutrition and ageing MCQs With Answer

Nutrition and ageing MCQs With Answer — This concise introduction covers key concepts in geriatric nutrition tailored for B. Pharm students. It emphasizes macronutrients, micronutrients, protein requirements, sarcopenia, malnutrition screening, vitamin D, B12, calcium, and electrolyte changes with ageing. Clinical relevance includes drug–nutrient interactions, pharmacokinetics alterations in the elderly, dietary assessment tools, and common causes of deficiency. Understanding nutritional physiology, absorption changes, and medication effects supports rational therapeutic choices and counseling in geriatric pharmacotherapy. These targeted review points help bridge pharmacology and nutrition for safe, effective care of older adults. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which physiological change in older adults most directly reduces vitamin B12 absorption?

• Decreased pancreatic enzyme secretion
• Decreased intrinsic factor production
• Increased intestinal motility
• Enhanced gastric acid secretion

Correct Answer: Decreased intrinsic factor production

Q2. What is the commonly recommended protein intake for older adults to help prevent sarcopenia?

• 0.8 g/kg/day
• 1.2 g/kg/day
• 1.8 g/kg/day
• 2.5 g/kg/day

Correct Answer: 1.2 g/kg/day

Q3. Warfarin anticoagulant effect is antagonized by which nutrient?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Folic acid

Correct Answer: Vitamin K

Q4. The most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in an elderly patient is:

• Poor dietary intake
• Menstrual blood loss
• Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss
• Renal insufficiency

Correct Answer: Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss

Q5. Which drug class increases catabolism of vitamin D leading to deficiency risk?

• Proton pump inhibitors
• Phenytoin and other hepatic enzyme inducers
• ACE inhibitors
• Beta blockers

Correct Answer: Phenytoin and other hepatic enzyme inducers

Q6. Which laboratory marker is most sensitive for short-term changes in protein-energy status?

• Serum albumin
• Transferrin
• Prealbumin (transthyretin)
• Hemoglobin

Correct Answer: Prealbumin (transthyretin)

Q7. Which vitamin is most critical to prevent neural tube defects and is important in elderly folate metabolism?

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6
• Folate (vitamin B9)
• Vitamin C

Correct Answer: Folate (vitamin B9)

Q8. Which validated screening tool is specifically designed for nutritional assessment in older adults?

• MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment)
• APGAR score
• Glasgow Coma Scale
• Child-Pugh score

Correct Answer: MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment)

Q9. Which medication class commonly causes hypokalemia and can worsen muscle weakness in elderly patients?

• ACE inhibitors
• Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide)
• Potassium-sparing diuretics
• Calcium channel blockers

Correct Answer: Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide)

Q10. Long-term proton pump inhibitor use in older adults primarily impairs absorption of which nutrient?

• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Folate
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin B12

Q11. Absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) depends mainly on:

• Bacterial fermentation in colon
• Bile salts and dietary fat
• Gastric acid secretion only
• Pancreatic insulin secretion

Correct Answer: Bile salts and dietary fat

Q12. Progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength associated with ageing is called:

• Osteoporosis
• Cachexia
• Sarcopenia
• Myasthenia gravis

Correct Answer: Sarcopenia

Q13. Grapefruit juice interacts with many drugs by inhibiting which hepatic intestinal enzyme?

• CYP2D6
• CYP3A4
• MAO-A
• UDP-glucuronosyltransferase

Correct Answer: CYP3A4

Q14. Statin-associated myopathy has been linked to reduced levels of which endogenous compound?

• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone)
• Vitamin K
• Iron
• Calcium

Correct Answer: Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone)

Q15. Recommended daily calcium intake for many older adults (≥70 years) is approximately:

• 500 mg/day
• 800 mg/day
• 1,000 mg/day
• 1,200 mg/day

Correct Answer: 1,200 mg/day

Q16. Deficiency of which nutrient causes osteomalacia in older adults?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin D

Q17. The primary site of dietary iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is the:

• Stomach
• Duodenum
• Ileum
• Colon

Correct Answer: Duodenum

Q18. Which commonly prescribed drug class can cause dysgeusia (altered taste) and reduce appetite in older adults?

• ACE inhibitors
• Statins
• Thiazide diuretics
• Proton pump inhibitors

Correct Answer: ACE inhibitors

Q19. Which laboratory test is most commonly elevated in acute inflammation and can confound nutritional assessment?

• Serum albumin
• C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Prealbumin
• Serum transferrin

Correct Answer: C-reactive protein (CRP)

Q20. Enteral nutrition is indicated when:

• The gastrointestinal tract is nonfunctional
• Oral intake is inadequate but gut function is preserved
• Parenteral access is preferred
• Patient refuses all nutrition

Correct Answer: Oral intake is inadequate but gut function is preserved

Q21. High doses of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) can reduce the therapeutic effect of which antiparkinson drug by increasing peripheral metabolism?

• Levodopa (L-DOPA)
• Selegiline
• Pramipexole
• Ropinirole

Correct Answer: Levodopa (L-DOPA)

Q22. Recommended dietary fiber intake for older adults to support bowel regularity is approximately:

• 10–15 g/day
• 25–30 g/day
• 50–60 g/day
• 70–80 g/day

Correct Answer: 25–30 g/day

Q23. For elderly patients needing a small, high-quality protein source with good amino acid profile, which food is ideal?

• Refined grains
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil
• Fruit juice

Correct Answer: Eggs

Q24. Chronic excess intake of which vitamin has been associated with increased fracture risk in older adults?

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin K

Correct Answer: Vitamin A

Q25. Tetracycline antibiotics form insoluble chelates with which dietary mineral, reducing drug absorption?

• Potassium
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Phosphate

Correct Answer: Calcium

Q26. Clinically, unintentional weight loss suggesting malnutrition in an older adult is defined as more than:

• 1% body weight loss in 6 months
• 3% body weight loss in 6 months
• 5% body weight loss in 6 months
• 15% body weight loss in 6 months

Correct Answer: 5% body weight loss in 6 months

Q27. Which antihypertensive medication class is most likely to cause hyperkalemia and thus affect potassium nutrition status?

• Thiazide diuretics
• ACE inhibitors
• Loop diuretics
• Beta blockers

Correct Answer: ACE inhibitors

Q28. The largest contributor to reduced total energy requirements in many older adults is:

• Increased thermic effect of food
• Increased basal metabolic rate
• Reduced physical activity
• Increased lean body mass

Correct Answer: Reduced physical activity

Q29. Which supplement is most often recommended to older adults to reduce risk of deficiency and support bone health?

• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin K only

Correct Answer: Vitamin D

Q30. Systemic inflammation in elderly patients typically causes which change in serum albumin concentration?

• Marked increase due to acute-phase synthesis
• No change in albumin levels
• Decrease due to redistribution and reduced hepatic synthesis
• Transient spike followed by normalization

Correct Answer: Decrease due to redistribution and reduced hepatic synthesis

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