Nutrition and malnutrition: vitamin E deficiency in preterms: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Nutrition and malnutrition: vitamin E deficiency in preterms

Sample item

A 6-week-old preterm baby on a formula rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron has pallor and mild oedema. The blood count shows haemolytic anaemia with thrombocytosis. Deficiency of which vitamin is likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Vitamin E

Preterm babies have low stores of vitamin E, which protects red cell membranes from oxidant injury. Iron and polyunsaturated fats increase the oxidant load, so haemolytic anaemia, oedema and thrombocytosis develop. Supplementation with vitamin E corrects it.

Option by option

  • A. Vitamin E (correct)

    Correct. Low antioxidant protection leads to haemolysis of red cell membranes.

  • B. Vitamin K

    Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding from low clotting factors, not haemolysis.

  • C. Folate

    Folate deficiency causes macrocytic anaemia, not haemolysis with oedema.

  • D. Vitamin B12

    Vitamin B12 deficiency causes megaloblastic anaemia and is uncommon at this age.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Vitamin E. Preterm babies have low stores of vitamin E, which protects red cell membranes from oxidant injury.

Why is "Vitamin K" not the answer?

Vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding from low clotting factors, not haemolysis.

Why is "Folate" not the answer?

Folate deficiency causes macrocytic anaemia, not haemolysis with oedema.

Why is "Vitamin B12" not the answer?

Vitamin B12 deficiency causes megaloblastic anaemia and is uncommon at this age.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: vitamin E deficiency in preterms in Pediatrics. Iron and polyunsaturated fats increase the oxidant load, so haemolytic anaemia, oedema and thrombocytosis develop. Supplementation with vitamin E corrects it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition and malnutrition: vitamin E deficiency in preterms?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.