Nutrition & Metabolism — General Medicine

Nutrition & Metabolism MCQs: practice questions

Sample Nutrition & Metabolism multiple-choice questions from General Medicine.

1. A patient with malabsorption develops iron deficiency despite adequate dietary intake. Which mechanism best explains the deficiency?

   • A. Reduced intestinal iron absorption
   • B. Increased renal iron retention
   • C. Reduced gastrointestinal blood flow only
   • D. Increased hemoglobin synthesis
   • E. Increased erythropoietin production

2. A patient has bleeding gums and poor wound healing. Which deficiency is most likely?

   • A. Vitamin A
   • B. Vitamin D
   • C. Vitamin B12
   • D. Vitamin K
   • E. Vitamin C

3. A patient has fatigue, glossitis, and macrocytic anemia with neurologic symptoms. Which deficiency is most likely?

   • A. Vitamin A
   • B. Iron
   • C. Vitamin C
   • D. Vitamin B12
   • E. Vitamin K

4. A patient with chronic alcohol misuse develops confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely?

   • A. Vitamin D
   • B. Vitamin A
   • C. Vitamin K
   • D. Vitamin C
   • E. Thiamine

5. A patient has severe vitamin D deficiency and low calcium. Which hormone rises in compensation?

   • A. Insulin
   • B. Thyroxine
   • C. Parathyroid hormone
   • D. Aldosterone
   • E. Calcitonin

6. A patient with severe malnutrition develops loss of subcutaneous fat but relatively little edema. Which nutritional syndrome is most consistent?

7. A patient has severe protein-calorie malnutrition and develops infection easily. Which immune consequence is expected?

8. A patient with chronic liver disease has iron accumulation in multiple organs. Which condition is most consistent?

9. A patient has severe alcoholism with peripheral neuropathy and cardiac dysfunction. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely?

10. A patient with obesity has increased risk of endometrial carcinoma. Which hormonal environment contributes?

11. A patient has prolonged bleeding with a deficiency of a vitamin required for hepatic synthesis of several clotting factors. Which vitamin is deficient?

12. A patient develops peripheral neuropathy and hemolytic anemia after severe malnutrition. Which vitamin deficiency can produce this pattern?

13. A patient with severe hyperventilation develops paresthesias and lightheadedness. Which acid-base disorder is likely?

14. A malnourished child has edema, fatty liver, and skin/hair changes. Which syndrome is most likely?

15. A patient with obesity develops nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Which hepatic change is characteristic?

16. A patient has severe protein deficiency and generalized edema. Which mechanism best explains the edema?

17. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis has an elevated anion gap. Which acid is chiefly responsible for the abnormality?

18. A patient with prolonged vomiting develops metabolic alkalosis. Which renal effect promotes persistence of the disturbance?

19. A patient has obesity with insulin resistance and hypertension. Which metabolic state commonly accompanies this condition?

20. A patient develops night blindness. Which deficiency should be suspected?

21. A patient has central obesity and progressive glucose intolerance. Which adipose-tissue-related process contributes to insulin resistance?

22. A patient has macrocytic anemia without neurologic abnormalities and has poor nutrition. Which deficiency is most likely?

23. A child has impaired bone mineralization due to vitamin deficiency. Which vitamin is most directly involved?

24. A patient has severe malnutrition and develops fatty liver. Which mechanism contributes to hepatic steatosis?

25. A patient develops dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia. Which nutritional deficiency is classically associated with this triad?

26. A patient has chronic respiratory acidosis. Which renal adaptation is expected?

27. A patient with vitamin B12 deficiency has elevated methylmalonic acid. Which additional process is expected?

28. A patient has metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap. Which process is most likely contributing?

29. A patient has severe vitamin C deficiency. Which tissue process is most impaired?

30. A patient has vitamin A deficiency. Which epithelial change can occur?