Question

A person is eating polished rice throughout his life, deficiency of which vitamins he/she is likely to have?

• A. Vitamin A \
• B. Vitamin C \
• C. Vitamin $\text{B}_{1}$ \
• D. Vitamin $\text{B}_{12}$

Hint:

Polished Rice $=$ Loss of Bran Layer $=$ Loss of Thiamine (Vitamin $\text{B}_{1}$) $\rightarrow$ Beriberi disease.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Concept Industrial milling and polishing removes the outer bran and germ layers of cereal grains like rice, which houses the majority of their water-soluble B vitamins.

Step 2: Meaning Vitamin $\text{B}_{1}$ (thiamine) acts as a crucial coenzyme for carbohydrate metabolism pathways.

Step 3: Analysis * Relying entirely on a diet of polished white rice removes thiamine intake. * Chronic thiamine deficiency severely restricts the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction, impairing ATP production in the nervous and cardiovascular systems. This clinical condition is known as Beriberi. * Other vitamins listed, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin $\text{B}_{12}$, are sourced from other components of a diet (like greens, fruits, or meats) and are not primarily found in unpolished grain bran.

Step 4: Conclusion Thus, a lifelong diet of polished rice is directly linked to Vitamin $\text{B}_{1}$ deficiency, corresponding to option C. Final Answer: (C)