Proteins, vitamins and minerals are core ingredients of functional foods and essential in pharmaceutical nutrition. This collection of MCQs for B. Pharm students delves into protein structure and quality, essential and non‑essential amino acids, enzymes, fat‑ and water‑soluble vitamins, coenzyme roles, mineral cofactors, bioavailability, deficiency syndromes, toxicity, fortification strategies, and nutraceutical applications. Questions examine PDCAAS and DIAAS scoring, factors affecting absorption (phytates, oxalates, drug–nutrient interactions), clinical implications, and formulation considerations relevant to pharmacy practice. Each item is crafted to reinforce biochemical principles and clinical reasoning. Study, review, and succeed confidently. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. Which scoring method better reflects true protein digestibility for ileal amino acid availability?
- PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score)
- DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score)
- Biological Value (BV)
- Net Protein Utilization (NPU)
Correct Answer: DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score)
Q2. Which amino acid is considered essential for adults and must be supplied by the diet?
- Alanine
- Glycine
- Lysine
- Serine
Correct Answer: Lysine
Q3. Which protein fraction is most rapidly absorbed and typically used in post‑exercise supplements?
- Casein
- Soy protein isolate
- Whey protein
- Collagen hydrolysate
Correct Answer: Whey protein
Q4. Which vitamin is a fat‑soluble antioxidant important for protecting cell membranes from lipid peroxidation?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
Correct Answer: Vitamin E
Q5. Which mineral is a component of hemoglobin and critical for oxygen transport?
- Calcium
- Selenium
- Iron
- Zinc
Correct Answer: Iron
Q6. A deficiency of vitamin B3 (niacin) leads to which clinical syndrome?
- Scurvy
- Pellagra
- Beriberi
- Rickets
Correct Answer: Pellagra
Q7. Which dietary factor most reduces non‑heme iron absorption?
- Vitamin C co‑consumption
- Heme iron from meat
- Phytates in cereals and legumes
- Presence of animal protein
Correct Answer: Phytates in cereals and legumes
Q8. Which statement about casein protein is correct?
- It is rapidly digested producing a quick amino acid spike
- It forms a gel in the stomach, providing slow amino acid release
- It lacks essential amino acids and is nutritionally incomplete
- It is the primary protein in soy products
Correct Answer: It forms a gel in the stomach, providing slow amino acid release
Q9. Which vitamin acts as a coenzyme precursor for carboxylation reactions and is essential for blood clotting?
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
Correct Answer: Vitamin K
Q10. Excessive intake of which mineral most commonly causes hypercalcemia and associated toxicity?
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Potassium
Correct Answer: Calcium
Q11. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely to present with night blindness and keratinization of epithelial tissues?
- Vitamin A deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Vitamin K deficiency
Correct Answer: Vitamin A deficiency
Q12. Which trace element is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis as part of the iodothyronine structure?
- Iron
- Zinc
- Iodine
- Chromium
Correct Answer: Iodine
Q13. The Maillard reaction during food processing primarily affects which nutritional property of proteins?
- Increases essential amino acid content
- Improves protein solubility
- Reduces lysine bioavailability through cross‑linking
- Neutralizes anti‑nutritional factors
Correct Answer: Reduces lysine bioavailability through cross‑linking
Q14. Which vitamin is required for hydroxylation of proline and lysine during collagen synthesis, and its deficiency leads to impaired wound healing?
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B12
Correct Answer: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Q15. Which mineral plays a catalytic role in many dehydrogenases and is part of NAD+ metabolism indirectly?
- Zinc
- Manganese
- Magnesium
- Fluoride
Correct Answer: Magnesium
Q16. Which vitamin deficiency is associated with megaloblastic anemia due to impaired DNA synthesis?
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Folate (vitamin B9)
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Vitamin E
Correct Answer: Folate (vitamin B9)
Q17. Which term best describes foods that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition, often including fortified or bioactive components?
- Empty calories
- Functional foods
- Fast foods
- Placebo foods
Correct Answer: Functional foods
Q18. Which interaction can reduce the bioavailability of fat‑soluble vitamins when consumed together?
- High dietary fat increases absorption of fat‑soluble vitamins
- Lack of dietary fat decreases absorption of fat‑soluble vitamins
- Concurrent vitamin C supplementation enhances fat‑soluble vitamin uptake
- Protein co‑ingestion blocks fat‑soluble vitamin micelle formation
Correct Answer: Lack of dietary fat decreases absorption of fat‑soluble vitamins
Q19. Soy protein is often considered a high‑quality plant protein because it:
- Is deficient in methionine and tryptophan
- Has a PDCAAS close to animal proteins and contains all essential amino acids
- Is identical in composition to whey protein
- Cannot be used in fortified foods due to allergenicity
Correct Answer: Has a PDCAAS close to animal proteins and contains all essential amino acids
Q20. Which vitamin functions as a methyl group donor in homocysteine remethylation and is crucial in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects?
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Folate (vitamin B9)
- Vitamin K
Correct Answer: Folate (vitamin B9)
Q21. Which mineral deficiency presents with impaired wound healing, taste disturbances, and immune dysfunction?
- Copper deficiency
- Zinc deficiency
- Calcium deficiency
- Sodium deficiency
Correct Answer: Zinc deficiency
Q22. Which biochemical property determines a protein’s tertiary structure and functional activity?
- Primary amino acid sequence
- Dietary PDCAAS score
- Protein source labeling
- Net protein utilization
Correct Answer: Primary amino acid sequence
Q23. Which vitamin is synthesized by gut bacteria to some extent and is essential for blood clotting via gamma‑carboxylation of glutamate residues?
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
Correct Answer: Vitamin K
Q24. When formulating a functional food to enhance iron absorption, which component would you add?
- Phytate extract
- Calcium carbonate
- Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
- Oxalic acid
Correct Answer: Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Q25. Which mineral is a component of glutathione peroxidase and important for antioxidant defense?
- Selenium
- Iron
- Calcium
- Chloride
Correct Answer: Selenium
Q26. High intake of which vitamin poses the greatest teratogenic risk if consumed in excess during pregnancy?
- Vitamin A (retinoids)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B2
- Vitamin K
Correct Answer: Vitamin A (retinoids)
Q27. Which process during digestion primarily denatures dietary proteins making them susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis?
- Bile salt emulsification
- Gastric acid and pepsin action
- Pancreatic lipase activity
- Intestinal microbiota fermentation
Correct Answer: Gastric acid and pepsin action
Q28. Which vitamin deficiency causes peripheral neuropathy and is commonly associated with isoniazid therapy if not supplemented?
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
Correct Answer: Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
Q29. Which mineral imbalance is most likely when a patient on prolonged loop diuretics presents with muscle weakness and arrhythmias?
- Hypokalemia (low potassium)
- Hypercalcemia (high calcium)
- Hyponatremia (high sodium)
- Hypermagnesemia (high magnesium)
Correct Answer: Hypokalemia (low potassium)
Q30. In the context of functional foods, “biofortification” refers to:
- Adding synthetic flavor enhancers to foods
- Increasing nutrient content of crops through breeding or biotechnology
- Removing anti‑nutritional factors via processing
- Coating foods with enteric polymers
Correct Answer: Increasing nutrient content of crops through breeding or biotechnology
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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