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Diseases & Nutrition

RBI Grade B · General Awareness

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Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

→Core Concept

Diseases can be classified into two main types - nutritional deficiency diseases and infectious diseases. Nutritional diseases occur when the body lacks essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, proteins, or carbohydrates. Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites

💡Key Rules for Deficiency Diseases

Each vitamin and mineral has specific deficiency symptoms. Vitamin deficiencies are categorized into fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) and water-soluble (B-complex, C) vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body, while water-soluble vitamins need daily replenishment.

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Formula Block

Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

• BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m)²

• Daily Calorie Need = BMR × Activity Factor

• Protein Requirement = 1g per kg body weight (adults)

• Water Requirement = 35ml per kg body weight

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Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

⚡Shortcut Trick - ABCD Method for Fat-Soluble Vitamins

A = Anti-xerophthalmia (prevents night blindness) B = Bone health (Vitamin D) C = Clotting (Vitamin K) D = Defense against oxidation (Vitamin E) Worked Example 1: Identify the deficiency disease and its prevention

→Question

1

Analyze symptoms - bone-related problems indicate mineral deficiency

2

Identify specific symptoms - weak bones + bow legs = Rickets

3

Determine cause - Vitamin D and Calcium deficiency

4

Prevention - Sunlight exposure, milk, fish, fortified foods Answer: Rickets caused by Vitamin D deficiency, prevented by adequate sunlight and calcium-rich foods

✏️Worked Example 2

Match the pathogen with disease

→Question

1

Recall pathogen types - TB is bacterial disease

2

Identify specific bacteria - Mycobacterium tuberculosis

3

Transmission mode - Airborne droplets when infected person coughs/sneezes

4

Prevention - BCG vaccination, proper ventilation, avoiding crowded places Answer: Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes TB, transmitted through air droplets

⚡Shortcut for Vitamin C Sources

Remember 'CITRUS' - Citrus fruits, Indian gooseberry (amla), Tomatoes, Raw vegetables, Uncooked fruits, Sprouted grains. Common Trap - The #1 mistake students make: Confusing night blindness with color blindness. Night blindness (nyctalopia) is caused by Vitamin A deficiency and is curable. Color blindness is a genetic condition affecting color perception and cannot be cured through nutrition. Always read the question carefully to distinguish between these two completely different conditions. Another frequent error is mixing up Vitamin B1 (Beriberi) with Vitamin B12 (Pernicious anemia)

💡Remember

B1 = Beriberi (nervous system), B12 = Blood-related anemia

→Prevention strategies follow three levels

Primary (vaccination, balanced diet), Secondary (early detection, screening), and Tertiary (treatment to prevent complications). This classification often appears in exam questions about public health measures.

🔑 Key Points

Vitamin A deficiency causes night blindness (xerophthalmia), found in carrots, milk, eggs
Vitamin D deficiency leads to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults
Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, prevented by citrus fruits and fresh vegetables
Iron deficiency causes anemia, sources include green leafy vegetables and meat
Protein deficiency leads to kwashiorkor in children and marasmus in severe cases
BMI formula: Weight(kg) divided by Height(m) squared - normal range 18.5-24.9
Water-soluble vitamins (B, C) need daily intake, fat-soluble (A,D,E,K) are stored
Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spreads through air droplets
Malaria transmitted by female Anopheles mosquito, caused by Plasmodium parasite
Balanced diet contains 60% carbs, 20% fats, 20% proteins with vitamins and minerals

📌 Exam Facts

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) deficiency causes Beriberi disease affecting nervous system
Iodine deficiency leads to goiter and is prevented by iodized salt consumption
Pellagra is caused by Niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency, common in maize-eating populations
Hemoglobin normal range: Men 14-17 g/dL, Women 12-15 g/dL
Fluoride deficiency causes dental caries, excess causes fluorosis
Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito during daytime
BCG vaccine prevents Tuberculosis and is given at birth
Night blindness is the earliest symptom of Vitamin A deficiency

🚀 60-Second Revision

Remember: ABCD for fat-soluble vitamins - A(eyes), D(bones), E(antioxidant), K(clotting)
Formula: BMI = Weight/Height² - memorize normal range 18.5-24.9
Trap: Night blindness vs color blindness - first is nutritional, second is genetic
Quick recall: Citrus fruits for Vitamin C, milk for Calcium and Vitamin D
Disease agents: TB-bacteria, Malaria-parasite, Dengue-virus, all have different transmission
Deficiency diseases are preventable through balanced diet and lifestyle changes
Water-soluble vitamins need daily intake, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in body

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