Mnemonics for Vitamins and Deficiency Diseases

Vitamin questions are repeated in SSC general science. The names and diseases are easy to confuse, so this note uses short memory tricks along with a table.

Fat-Soluble and Water-Soluble

• Fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K. Trick: "All Dogs Eat Kibble" gives A-D-E-K.
• Water-soluble vitamins: B-complex and C. They are not stored in the body in large amounts.

Vitamin Table

Tricks

• B1 - Beriberi: "B1 beri" - both start with B.
• C - Scurvy: "Citrus cures scurvy".
• D - Rickets: "Dwarf legs" (bent legs) and sunshine vitamin.
• K - Koagulation: K for clotting.
• B12 contains cobalt, hence cobalamin.
• A - Eyes: "A for Aankh".

Quick Tips

• Vitamin D is made in the skin by sunlight.
• Vitamin C is destroyed by cooking.
• Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting.
• Vitamin B12 is found only in animal food.

Quick Revision Points

• Fat-soluble: A, D, E, K.
• Vitamin C prevents scurvy.
• Vitamin D prevents rickets.
• Vitamin B1 prevents beriberi.
• Vitamin K helps blood clotting.
• Vitamin B12 contains cobalt.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
   Answer: Vitamin C
2. Which vitamin deficiency causes rickets?
   Answer: Vitamin D
3. Which vitamin deficiency causes night blindness?
   Answer: Vitamin A
4. Which vitamin deficiency causes beriberi?
   Answer: Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
5. Which vitamin is needed for blood clotting?
   Answer: Vitamin K
6. What is the chemical name of vitamin C?
   Answer: Ascorbic acid
7. Which vitamin contains cobalt?
   Answer: Vitamin B12
8. Which disease is caused by niacin deficiency?
   Answer: Pellagra

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Mnemonics notes page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fat-soluble vitamins?

A, D, E and K.

What is the trick for fat-soluble vitamins?

All Dogs Eat Kibble (A-D-E-K).

Which vitamin is made by sunlight?

Vitamin D.

What is the chemical name of vitamin A?

Retinol.

What is the deficiency disease of vitamin B2?

Cheilosis.

What is the chemical name of vitamin E?

Tocopherol.

Which vitamin prevents anaemia?

Folic acid (B9) and B12.

Which vitamin is called the sunshine vitamin?

Vitamin D.

Which vitamin is destroyed by heat?

Vitamin C.

How to revise vitamins?

Use the table and the trick words daily.