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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Nutrition & Fitness

Vitamin A Quiz: How Much Do You Really Know?

Think you can ace our vitamin A benefits quiz? Dive in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Vitamin A quiz highlighting benefits, sources, and deficiency signs on dark blue background.

This vitamin A quiz helps you check what you know about benefits, food sources, and deficiency signs. Answer quick questions on vision, immunity, and skin health, and get a clearer sense of any gaps while you learn a few new facts. For more practice, try the full vitamin quiz or follow up with the deficiency check .

What is the primary function of vitamin A in the human body?
Bone structure
Blood clotting
Energy production
Vision maintenance
Vitamin A is essential for the formation of rhodopsin, a pigment in the retina that enables vision in low-light conditions. It also supports the differentiation of epithelial cells in the eye. Without adequate vitamin A, night vision deteriorates and eye health suffers.
Vitamin A is classified as which type of vitamin?
B vitamin
Trace mineral
Water-soluble vitamin
Fat-soluble vitamin
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in fats and is stored in the liver and adipose tissue. Fat-soluble vitamins require dietary fat for absorption and can accumulate in the body.
Which form of vitamin A is found in animal sources?
Beta-carotene
Lycopene
Retinol
Lutein
Retinol is the preformed, active form of vitamin A present in animal products such as liver, dairy, and fish. It does not require conversion in the body to be used.
Which vegetable is a rich source of beta-carotene?
Zucchini
Carrots
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Carrots are well known for their high beta-carotene content, a provitamin A carotenoid that the body converts into retinol. This compound gives carrots their orange color.
A deficiency of vitamin A can first manifest as what condition?
Hair loss
Muscle cramps
Dry skin
Night blindness
Night blindness is often the earliest symptom of vitamin A deficiency, as the retina cannot regenerate enough rhodopsin without adequate vitamin A. This impairs vision in dim light.
What is the plant-based precursor to vitamin A?
Retinol
Retinal
Retinoic acid
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a provitamin A carotenoid found in plants that the body converts into retinol. It is the most efficient precursor compared to other carotenoids.
Vitamin A plays a crucial role in the maintenance of which system besides vision?
Nervous system
Cardiovascular system
Immune system
Muscular system
Vitamin A supports immune function by maintaining mucosal surfaces and promoting the function of white blood cells. Deficiency increases susceptibility to infections.
Which of the following is NOT a symptom of vitamin A deficiency?
Hypercalcemia
Increased infection risk
Night blindness
Xerophthalmia
Hypercalcemia refers to elevated blood calcium, which is not caused by vitamin A deficiency. Deficiency leads to night blindness, xerophthalmia, and impaired immunity.
Retinoic acid, a metabolite of vitamin A, is essential for what process?
Calcium absorption
Protein digestion
Gene expression regulation
Fat emulsification
Retinoic acid acts as a signaling molecule binding to nuclear receptors to regulate gene transcription involved in growth and differentiation.
Which animal source is particularly high in retinol?
Beef liver
Egg whites
Chicken breast
Salmon
Beef liver is among the richest sources of preformed vitamin A (retinol), providing far more than the recommended daily amount in a single serving.
Which vitamin A compound is used in dermatology for acne treatment?
Retinyl palmitate
Alpha-carotene
Isotretinoin
Lycopene
Isotretinoin is a synthetic retinoid derived from vitamin A used to treat severe acne by reducing sebaceous gland activity and inflammation.
The unit of measure for vitamin A activity, RAE, stands for what?
Retinol Absorption Efficiency
Retinol Activity Equivalent
Retinal Available Estimate
Retinoic Acid Equivalent
RAE stands for Retinol Activity Equivalent, standardizing vitamin A activity from retinol and provitamin A carotenoids to account for differences in absorption and conversion.
What is the name of the visual pigment in the retina that depends on vitamin A?
Rhodopsin
Melanin
Opsin
Hemoglobin
Rhodopsin is the light-sensitive pigment in rod cells of the retina, composed of opsin protein bound to retinal (a vitamin A derivative). It is critical for scotopic (low-light) vision.
In addition to retinol, what are the two other active forms of vitamin A?
Retinal and retinoic acid
Tocopherol and tocotrienol
Folate and cyanocobalamin
Beta-carotene and lycopene
The three active forms of vitamin A are retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde), and retinoic acid, each serving roles in vision, cellular differentiation, and gene expression.
The RDA for vitamin A for adult men is approximately how many micrograms RAE per day?
900 µg RAE
500 µg RAE
300 µg RAE
1200 µg RAE
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 900 µg RAE per day for adult men, ensuring adequate vision, immune function, and cellular health.
Excess intake of vitamin A leads to toxicity known as what?
Hypovitaminosis A
Hypercarotenemia
Hypocalcemia
Hypervitaminosis A
Hypervitaminosis A refers to toxic levels of preformed vitamin A, which can cause symptoms like liver damage, headache, and bone abnormalities.
Which symptom is commonly associated with chronic vitamin A toxicity?
Hypertension
Teratogenic effects
Bone pain and hyperostosis
Night blindness
Chronic toxicity often presents with bone pain, hyperostosis (excess bone growth), and liver enlargement. Teratogenic effects are seen with high intake during pregnancy.
Which population group is most at risk for vitamin A deficiency?
Elderly adults in developed countries
Pregnant women in low-income countries
Infants fed fortified formula
Adolescents with balanced diet
Pregnant women in low-income settings often have limited access to vitamin A-rich foods, increasing risks for deficiency and associated maternal-child health complications.
Supplementation with vitamin A in deficient children reduces mortality from measles by approximately what percentage?
20%
30%
10%
5%
Vitamin A supplementation in deficient children can reduce measles-related mortality by about 30% by enhancing immune response and reducing complications.
Which of the following measures reflects vitamin A status in the body?
Serum calcium
Hemoglobin concentration
Serum retinol
Serum albumin
Serum retinol concentration is commonly used to assess vitamin A status, although it only changes when stores are very low. It reflects recent intake and liver reserves.
What is the name of the eye condition characterized by dryness and softening of the conjunctiva from vitamin A deficiency?
Xerophthalmia
Glaucoma
Cataract
Macular degeneration
Xerophthalmia results from vitamin A deficiency and includes conjunctival and corneal dryness, leading to Bitot's spots and potential blindness.
Which of the following foods is NOT a good source of vitamin A?
Potatoes
Mangoes
Sweet potatoes
Spinach
Regular white potatoes provide minimal beta-carotene compared to sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and fruits like mango that are rich in provitamin A.
Which enzyme cleaves beta-carotene to produce retinal?
Carotenoid isomerase
Beta-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase
Retinol dehydrogenase
Beta-glucosidase
Beta-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase catalyzes the central cleavage of beta-carotene into two molecules of retinal, the first step in forming retinol.
In the visual cycle, retinal combines with opsin to form rhodopsin in what part of the eye?
Lens
Retina
Optic nerve
Cornea
In the photoreceptor cells of the retina, retinal binds to opsin to form rhodopsin, which is crucial for capturing light and initiating vision.
What clinical sign appears as foamy accumulations on the conjunctiva in vitamin A deficiency?
Pterygium
Corneal ulcers
Bitot's spots
Chalazion
Bitot's spots are triangular, foamy lesions on the conjunctiva that indicate vitamin A - deficient keratinization of the ocular surface.
Retinol-binding protein transports vitamin A from the liver to target tissues. It is secreted by which organ?
Intestine
Kidney
Pancreas
Liver
The liver produces and secretes retinol-binding protein (RBP) into the bloodstream, where it binds retinol and delivers it to peripheral tissues.
Which dietary factor enhances absorption of vitamin A?
High protein
High calcium
Dietary fiber
Dietary fat
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and its absorption is significantly improved when consumed with dietary fats, which facilitate micelle formation and transport across enterocytes.
What is the main storage form of vitamin A in the liver?
Beta-carotene
Retinyl esters
Free retinol
Retinoic acid
In the liver, retinol is esterified to retinyl esters (such as retinyl palmitate) and stored in hepatic stellate cells until mobilization is needed.
Excessive consumption of which vegetable can lead to carotenemia, a harmless orange discoloration of the skin?
Peppers
Carrots
Tomatoes
Spinach
High intake of beta-carotene from carrots can lead to carotenemia, where excess carotenoids deposit in the skin, giving it an orange hue. It is benign and reversible.
Vitamin A influences gene expression by acting through which type of receptor?
Tyrosine kinase receptors
Ion channel receptors
Nuclear receptors
G-protein coupled receptors
Retinoic acid binds to nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs and RXRs), forming complexes that regulate transcription of target genes.
During gestation, excessive preformed vitamin A intake is associated with which congenital malformation?
Neural tube defects
Anencephaly
Cleft palate
Spina bifida
High doses of preformed vitamin A (>10,000 IU/day) during pregnancy have been linked to teratogenic effects such as cleft palate and cardiac anomalies.
Which laboratory indicator is considered the most accurate long-term marker of vitamin A stores?
Serum retinol alone
Hepatic reserves measured by biopsy
Urinary excretion
Fecal retinol
Liver concentration of retinyl esters obtained by biopsy is the gold standard for assessing total body vitamin A stores but is invasive and seldom used clinically.
All-trans-retinoic acid is used in the treatment of which condition?
Acute promyelocytic leukemia
Type 2 diabetes
Rheumatoid arthritis
Hypertension
All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is used to induce differentiation of promyelocytes in acute promyelocytic leukemia, improving remission rates.
Retinol dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible conversion of which compounds?
Retinol to retinyl esters
Retinal to retinoic acid
Retinol to retinal
Retinol to retinoic acid
Retinol dehydrogenase reversibly oxidizes retinol to retinal, a critical step in the visual cycle and in retinoic acid biosynthesis.
Which statement is TRUE regarding vitamin A metabolism?
Beta-carotene conversion efficiency increases with high dietary intake
Vitamin A is excreted mainly via urine unchanged
Retinoic acid is converted back to retinal easily
Retinol can be esterified and stored in hepatic stellate cells
Retinol is esterified to retinyl esters and stored in hepatic stellate cells in the liver. Other statements are incorrect as conversion efficiency decreases with high intake and excretion occurs via bile.
The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are particularly important for which aspect of eye health?
Bone growth
Immune modulation
Macular health
Calcium absorption
Lutein and zeaxanthin accumulate in the macula, filtering blue light and protecting against oxidative damage, thus supporting central vision.
Which genetic condition reduces fat absorption and increases risk of vitamin A deficiency?
Sickle cell anemia
Abetalipoproteinemia
Phenylketonuria
Hemophilia
Abetalipoproteinemia impairs chylomicron formation and fat absorption, leading to deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins including vitamin A.
In hypervitaminosis A, intracranial pressure may increase leading to what sign?
Papilledema
Hepatomegaly
Nephrolithiasis
Splenomegaly
High intracranial pressure from hypervitaminosis A can cause papilledema, or optic disc swelling, manifesting as headaches and vision changes.
Which immune cells are directly influenced by vitamin A for differentiation and function?
Erythrocytes
Neutrophils
T cells
Platelets
Vitamin A and its metabolite retinoic acid influence differentiation of T cells, especially regulatory T cells, thereby modulating immune responses.
Which factor decreases the conversion of beta-carotene to retinal in the body?
Protein deficiency
High iron intake
Zinc deficiency
High vitamin C intake
Zinc is a cofactor for beta-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase; deficiency impairs this enzyme's activity and reduces conversion of beta-carotene to retinal.
Chronic vitamin A deficiency may lead to which skin condition?
Molluscum contagiosum
Acne vulgaris
Psoriasis
Follicular hyperkeratosis
Follicular hyperkeratosis, or rough, bumpy skin, results from keratin buildup in hair follicles due to vitamin A deficiency's effect on epithelial cell differentiation.
What is the epigenetic mechanism by which retinoic acid regulates gene expression?
DNA methylation
Histone acetylation
MicroRNA interference
Ubiquitination
Retinoic acid-receptor complexes recruit histone acetyltransferases to acetylate histones at target gene promoters, loosening chromatin and enhancing transcription.
The bioconversion efficiency of beta-carotene to vitamin A is approximately 1:12. Converting 24 mg of beta-carotene yields how many micrograms of retinol?
3000 µg
4000 µg
2000 µg
1000 µg
Since 12 µg of beta-carotene yields 1 µg retinol, 24 mg (24,000 µg) divided by 12 equals 2,000 µg of retinol.
Which cytochrome P450 enzyme is primarily responsible for retinoic acid catabolism?
CYP26A1
CYP2E1
CYP1A2
CYP3A4
CYP26A1 is the key enzyme that hydroxylates and degrades retinoic acid, regulating its cellular levels and preventing toxicity.
Which enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of retinaldehyde to retinoic acid?
Retinol dehydrogenase
Retinaldehyde dehydrogenase
Beta-carotene dioxygenase
Retinyl ester hydrolase
Retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH) irreversibly oxidizes retinal (retinaldehyde) to retinoic acid, a critical step in vitamin A metabolism for gene regulation.
In the Vitamin A EAR estimation, which factor is NOT typically considered?
Bioavailability
Conversion efficiency
Genetic polymorphisms
Body weight
EAR calculations consider intake data, bioavailability, and conversion efficiency, but generally do not factor in individual genetic polymorphisms affecting metabolism.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Vitamin A Benefits -

    Gain insight into the essential roles vitamin A plays in vision, immunity, and cellular health by answering targeted quiz questions.

  2. Identify Top Dietary Sources -

    Learn to pinpoint both preformed vitamin A and beta-carotene - rich foods through engaging nutrition supplements quiz items.

  3. Recognize Deficiency Symptoms -

    Develop the ability to spot early and advanced signs of vitamin A deficiency by analyzing scenario-based questions.

  4. Recall Recommended Intake -

    Memorize daily vitamin A requirements for different age groups and life stages to support practical dietary planning.

  5. Apply Quiz Knowledge to Diet -

    Test your understanding and reinforce learning by using quiz feedback to adjust your nutritional habits effectively.

  6. Strengthen Overall Nutrition IQ -

    Expand your general nutrient knowledge and boost confidence in making informed dietary choices through this vitamin knowledge quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Forms and Retinol Activity Equivalent (RAE) -

    Vitamin A exists as preformed retinol in animal foods and provitamin A carotenoids in plants; NIH states that 12 μg of dietary beta-carotene equals 1 μg RAE. Use the mnemonic "CARROT" (Carotene Acts Rapidly to Restore Ocular Tissue) to recall that carotenoids convert to active vitamin A.

  2. Vision and Immune Support -

    Rhodopsin, a retinal-based pigment in the retina, is essential for low-light vision, while vitamin A modulates T-cell function for immunity, per WHO guidelines. Think "RITE" (Retinal for Illumination, T-cell Enhancement) to solidify its dual role when preparing for a vitamin knowledge quiz.

  3. Top Dietary Sources -

    Liver, dairy, and fish oils provide preformed vitamin A, whereas sweet potatoes and spinach supply beta-carotene - an antioxidant that your body converts to retinol (Harvard T.H. Chan School). Try "LDS-SQ" (Liver, Dairy, Spinach, Sweet potato, Quinoa) to remember diverse nutrition supplements quiz sources.

  4. Deficiency Signs and Symptoms -

    Early deficiency can cause night blindness and xerophthalmia, progressing to keratomalacia if untreated; this is often tested in a vitamin A deficiency quiz. Recall "Eyes NIX" (Night vision Issues, Xerosis) to quickly identify ocular symptoms when studying.

  5. Toxicity and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) -

    Chronic intake above the UL of 3,000 μg RAE/day (NIH) can cause hypervitaminosis A with headache, hepatotoxicity, and teratogenic effects. Use "3K ALERT" to recall the 3,000 μg threshold and supplement caution.

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