A Vitamin Match-up Trivia Quiz

Answer: B1

Vitamin B1 is needed by the body to enable the cells to convert foods eaten into energy. It is also needed to keep the nervous system healthy.

Thiamine, sometimes written as thiamin, is found in various foods including meats such as beef, liver and pork and in peas and beans. It is sometimes added to cereals and bread so most people will obtain enough for the body's needs from their diet. Supplements are available.

Answer: D

Vitamin D, or calciferol, is known as the 'sunshine vitamin' as the body produces it naturally when exposed to sunlight on the skin. Some foods contain vitamin D, including oily fish, and it is added to breakfast cereals.

A lack of vitamin D can affect the bones. Rickets was a common childhood disease in cities due to the lack of sun exposure and is caused by the bones softening. In adults, this is known as osteomalacia, with the same cause. Supplements are recommended in the winter months in the northern hemisphere particularly.

Answer: E

Vitamin E operates in the body as a booster to the immune system, fighting off infections. It is also an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage that might be caused by free radicals. These are formed either in the body, as a by-product of energy production, or from external sources like pollution and radiation. Damage to cells may lead to cancer developing.

Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils and nuts and is often one of the supplements added to breakfast cereals.

Answer: B9

Folate is often added to foods as folic acid and is necessary to the creation of DNA and RNA and in metabolism. It also breaks down amino acids which can harm the body. Folic acid is particularly important during times of growth, so is often taken as a supplement before and during pregnancy.

Foods which provide folate include leafy green vegetables, such as cabbage, beans, fresh fruit and eggs.

Answer: B2

Vitamin B2 is riboflavin, another vitamin which contributes to the health of the nervous system, eyes and skin. It also plays a role in the release of energy, as do so many of the vitamins in the quiz. Sources of riboflavin include milk, mushrooms and eggs and it is often added to breakfast cereals.

Although the pigment now called riboflavin was first seen in the 1870s, it was not identified and given its name until the 1930s. The vitamin is not stored in the body - it is water soluble so is excreted in urine. A balanced diet normally provides the daily requirement although supplements can be described if needed.

Answer: K

Vitamin K is much easier to remember and pronounce than phytomenadione. It is found in a variety of green vegetables and in cereal grains. The liver stores any excess, so it unlikely that anyone would need to take supplements.

Vitamin K is needed to help wounds heal and for blood clotting. New born babies have a low level of vitamin K and may suffer from bleeding. This may cause brain damage in rare instances so all new babies are given a dose of vitamin K, by injection or orally, provided the parents agree, of course.

Answer: B6

Pyridoxine is called vitamin B6. It helps in the creation and storage of energy from both carbohydrates and protein and also in forming haemoglobin, vital for moving oxygen around the body.

Sources of B6 include poultry, peanuts and bananas. B6 was first identified by a Hungarian doctor in 1934.

Answer: C

Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid and is necessary for the health of the skin, blood vessels and to help wounds to heal. It is found in various vegetables and in fruits, especially citrus fruits. Vitamin C was identified in 1912 and created artificially in 1933.

A lack of vitamin C was a leading cause of scurvy during long sea voyages, with sailors suffering from fatigue, muscle pain and swollen, bleeding gums, meaning they lost their teeth. The need for fresh foods was identified long before the discovery of ascorbic acid.

Answer: B3

Niacin is needed for the health of the skin, the nervous system and to assist in the release of energy from food. It is found in meat, eggs and fish and cannot be stored in the body, coming solely from what humans eat.

It was originally known as nicotinic acid, but was renamed to avoid confusion with the nicotine found in tobacco. A lack of vitamin B3 is the cause of the illness pellagra, which causes dermatitis and inflammation of the tongue. If untreated, it will lead to dementia.

Answer: A

Retinol is known as vitamin A, and is another vitamin that contributes towards the immune system as well as keeping the skin in good condition and helping with vision when there is little natural light. It is found in milk and milk products, cheese, eggs and oily fish. Fruit and vegetables which contain beta-carotene are also a useful source as the body can convert this into vitamin A.

The vitamin was identified over a period of time during the 1910s and 1920s by different scientists. In the developed world, few people suffer from a deficiency of vitamin A but it is quite common in parts of Africa and India.