Nutrition and Health Practice Questions

Q: What is the calorie and protein supplementation given to a child aged 6 –72 months under ICDS programme of India?

500 kcal, 12–15 g protein. ***500 kcal, 12–15 g protein*** - Under the **Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)** scheme, this is the prescribed **supplementary nutrition** mandated for children aged 6 to 72 months who are in the general category. - This nutritional support aims to bridge the gap between the Recommened Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Actual Dietary Intake, specifically targeting the prevention of **protein-energy malnutrition**. *600 kcal, 18–20 g protein* - This caloric and protein level is higher than the standard ICDS recommendation for this specific age group. - These amounts are often associated with therapeutic feeding protocols for **severely acute malnourished (SAM)** children rather than routine supplementary nutrition. *800 kcal, 20–25 g protein* - This caloric density exceeds the national guidelines for supplementary feeding under the ICDS program for children. - Providing such high caloric supplementation is typically reserved for aggressive clinical recovery programs or inpatient management of severe malnutrition, not the standard **community-based nutrition** program. *400 kcal, 10 g protein* - This amount represents an outdated or incorrect figure often confused with historical supplementary standards. - It falls below the established **nutritional standard** set by the Ministry of Women and Child Development for the growth and development of children during these critical formative years.

Q: Vitamin A is deliberately added to ghee to improve its nutritional value at the population level. This process is known as:

Fortification. ***Fortification*** - This process involves the deliberate addition of one or more **essential micronutrients** to a food product to improve its **nutritional quality** and prevent deficiencies at the population level. - It is a public health strategy specifically designed to reach a large number of people through **commonly consumed vehicles**, such as adding Vitamin A to ghee or iodine to common salt. *Adulteration* - This is an illegal or unethical practice of adding inferior, harmful, or non-nutritive substances to food for the purpose of **economic gain**. - Examples include mixing rapeseed oil with mustard oil or adding starch to milk, which degrades food quality rather than enhancing it. *Enrichment* - This term technically refers to the process of **replacing** specific nutrients that were lost during the **refining** or processing of a food product. - A classic example is the addition of B-vitamins and iron back into white flour (refined wheat flour) after the milling process removes them. *Supplementation* - This refers to the direct administration of a nutritional agent (like a **tablet, capsule, or syrup**) to an individual, often targeting specific high-risk groups. - It differs from fortification because it is a **clinical or therapeutic intervention** for individuals rather than a population-wide modification of a food supply.

Q: Lowering of which of the following parameters indicates acute malnutrition?

Weight for height. **Explanation:** In pediatric nutritional assessment, different anthropometric indices reflect different durations and types of nutritional stress. **1. Why "Weight for Height" is correct:** **Weight for height** is the primary indicator of **acute malnutrition** (also known as **Wasting**). Weight is a sensitive parameter that fluctuates rapidly in response to recent nutritional deficiencies or acute illnesses (like diarrhea or respiratory infections). When a child’s weight is low relative to their height, it signifies a recent and severe process of weight loss, indicating an acute nutritional emergency. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Weight for Age (Underweight):** This is a composite indicator that reflects both acute and chronic malnutrition. It does not distinguish between a child who is short (stunted) and a child who is thin (wasted). * **Height for Age (Stunting):** This indicates **chronic malnutrition**. Linear growth retardation occurs over a long period due to persistent nutritional deprivation or recurrent infections. It represents "past" or long-term nutritional status. * **Body Mass Index (BMI):** While used in adults and older children, in the context of standard WHO pediatric growth monitoring for acute malnutrition, "Weight for Height" is the specific gold-standard parameter used to define wasting. **Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Wasting (Acute):** Weight for Height < -2 SD. * **Stunting (Chronic):** Height for Age < -2 SD. * **Underweight (Composite):** Weight for Age < -2 SD. * **Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC):** A MUAC < 11.5 cm is a quick screening tool for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children aged 6–59 months. * **Gomez Classification:** Based on Weight for Age. * **Waterlow’s Classification:** Uses Weight for Height (Wasting) and Height for Age (Stunting).

Q: Vitamin A deficiency is considered a public health problem if the prevalence rate of night blindness in children between 6 months and 6 years is more than?

1.00%. **Explanation:** Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major cause of preventable childhood blindness. The World Health Organization (WHO) has established specific prevalence thresholds to determine when VAD constitutes a significant public health problem within a community. **1. Why 1.00% is Correct:** According to WHO criteria, **Night Blindness (XN)** in children aged 6 months to 6 years is considered a public health problem if the prevalence exceeds **1.0%**. Night blindness is the earliest clinical manifestation of xerophthalmia and serves as a sensitive community indicator for Vitamin A status. **2. Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **0.01% (Option A):** This value is too low to signify a community-wide public health crisis for clinical symptoms. * **0.05% (Option B):** This is the threshold for **Bitot’s Spots (X1B)**. If Bitot’s spots exceed 0.5% (not 0.05%), it is considered a public health problem. * **0.10% (Option C):** This is the threshold for **Corneal Xerosis/Ulceration/Keratomalacia (X2/X3A/X3B)**. Because these represent advanced, permanent damage, even a small prevalence (0.01% for corneal scars) is significant. **3. High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** To master VAD questions, remember these WHO "Public Health Problem" thresholds for children (6m–6y): * **Night Blindness (XN):** > 1.0% * **Bitot’s Spots (X1B):** > 0.5% * **Corneal Xerosis/Keratomalacia (X2/X3):** > 0.01% * **Corneal Scars (XS):** > 0.05% * **Serum Retinol ( 20% (Biochemical indicator) **Prophylaxis Schedule:** Under the National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Program, the 1st dose (1 lakh IU) is given at 9 months (with Measles/MR vaccine), followed by 2 lakh IU every 6 months until age 5 (Total 9 doses/17 lakh IU).

Q: Which of the following grains provides the best quality proteins in the highest quantities?

Rice. **Explanation:** The question asks for the grain providing the **best quality** protein in the **highest quantity**. This requires a balance between protein concentration and biological value. **Why Rice is Correct:** While rice has the lowest total protein content (approx. 7%) among cereals, it contains the **highest quality protein**. This is because rice protein is rich in **Lysine**, the limiting amino acid in most other cereals. It has a high **Biological Value (BV)** of approximately 80 and a high **Net Protein Utilization (NPU)**. In the context of "best quality in highest quantities" relative to its own composition, rice protein is more efficiently utilized by the body than wheat or millets. **Analysis of Incorrect Options:** * **Wheat:** Contains more protein (approx. 11-12%) than rice, but the quality is lower. It is deficient in Lysine and contains gluten, which can be an allergen (Celiac disease). Its NPU is lower than rice. * **Ragi (Finger Millet):** Known for being the richest source of **Calcium** (344 mg/100g) rather than protein. Its protein content is about 7%, similar to rice, but with a lower biological profile. * **Bajra (Pearl Millet):** Contains a decent amount of protein (approx. 11%) and is a rich source of **Iron**, but the protein quality (amino acid score) does not surpass that of rice. **High-Yield Facts for NEET-PG:** * **Limiting Amino Acid:** In most cereals (Rice, Wheat, Maize), it is **Lysine**. In pulses, it is **Methionine**. * **Reference Protein:** Egg is considered the reference protein (BV = 100). * **Maize & Pellagra:** Maize is deficient in Tryptophan; a diet solely based on maize leads to Pellagra (Niacin deficiency) because Tryptophan is a precursor to Niacin. * **Pulse-Cereal Mix:** To achieve an ideal amino acid profile, a cereal-to-pulse ratio of **4:1** is recommended.

Question 1

What is the calorie and protein supplementation given to a child aged 6 –72 months under ICDS programme of India?

Accepted Answer

500 kcal, 12–15 g protein

Answer

600 kcal, 18–20 g protein

Answer

800 kcal, 20–25 g protein

Answer

400 kcal, 10 g protein

Question 2

Vitamin A is deliberately added to ghee to improve its nutritional value at the population level. This process is known as:

Accepted Answer

Fortification

Answer

Adulteration

Answer

Enrichment

Answer

Supplementation

Question 3

Lowering of which of the following parameters indicates acute malnutrition?

Accepted Answer

Weight for height

Answer

Weight for age

Answer

Height for age

Answer

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Question 4

Vitamin A deficiency is considered a public health problem if the prevalence rate of night blindness in children between 6 months and 6 years is more than?

Accepted Answer

1.00%

Answer

0.01%

Answer

0.05%

Answer

0.10%

Question 5

Which of the following grains provides the best quality proteins in the highest quantities?

Accepted Answer

Rice

Answer

Wheat

Answer

Ragi

Answer

Bajra

Nutrition and Health — MCQs

Nutrition and Health — MCQs

On this page

Practice by Chapter

Want unlimited practice?