SSC CGL Biology · Human Physiology
Nutrition, Vitamins and Minerals
What each food group does and where it comes from, deficiency diseases, other names for vitamins, and the salt disorders named by their Latin roots.
Why this matters
Ten questions in the bank: six from the 2023 shifts and four from the 2024 shifts. They ask a food group's role, a source, a deficiency or a vitamin's chemical name, so the two tables cover them.
Concept 1 of 2: Food groups, sources and deficiencies
Definition
The groups:
- Proteins: body-building food (egg white, pulses).
- Carbohydrates (wheat) and fats (butter, cheese): energy-giving.
- Vitamins and minerals: protective; they let the body carry out its metabolic reactions.
- Vitamin C: citrus fruits such as lemon.
Disorders and terms:
- Kwashiorkor: lack of protein (not fat); children may stay stunted.
- Natr- means sodium and kal- potassium: low blood sodium is hyponatremia, low potassium hypokalemia.
- Non-perishable foods are dry: pulses, grains, sugar. Milk, curds and meat spoil quickly.
| Food | Rich in |
|---|---|
| Egg white | ProteinQ |
| Butter and cheese | Fat |
| Wheat | Carbohydrate |
| Lemon | Vitamin C |
Practise this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 1 · Human Physiology · Nutrition, Vitamins and Minerals
Kwashiorkor is protein, not fat
Concept 2 of 2: Vitamins: names and deficiencies
Definition
The vitamins:
- A: retinol.
- B2: riboflavin; lack causes cheilosis, cracks at the corners of the mouth.
- B6: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine.
- C: ascorbic acid; lack causes scurvy.
- D: lack causes rickets. Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) treats hypoparathyroidism and resistant rickets.
- E: tocopherol.
Practise this conceptself-check · 3 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
Example 2 · Human Physiology · Nutrition, Vitamins and Minerals
Pyridoxine is B6
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (2)
Food groups, sources and deficiencies4 rows
| Food | Rich in |
|---|---|
| Egg white | ProteinQ |
| Butter and cheese | Fat |
| Wheat | Carbohydrate |
| Lemon | Vitamin C |
Watch out for (2)
- Kwashiorkor is protein, not fat→ Food groups, sources and deficiencies
- Pyridoxine is B6→ Vitamins: names and deficiencies
Test yourself on Human Physiology
10 past SSC CGL questions from this chapter, timed at 6 minutes and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.