Question

A family consumes only polished rice. Which of the following combinations of vitamin deficiency and enzymatic defect will be present in this family?

• A. Riboflavin-glutathione reductase
• B. Thiamine-transketolase
• C. Thiamine-transaminase
• D. Riboflavin-transketolase

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In this question, we need to find the connection between the consumption of polished rice and specific vitamin deficiencies with associated enzymatic defects. The key to solving this lies in understanding how dietary choices can lead to nutrient deficiencies and the role of vitamins in enzymatic processes.

Explanation: Polished rice primarily consists of the starchy endosperm, and during the polishing process, the outer layers, which contain essential nutrients, are removed. This results in the significant loss of several vitamins, especially Thiamine (Vitamin B1).

Thiamine and Its Role: Thiamine is a crucial vitamin involved in carbohydrate metabolism. It acts as a cofactor for several enzymes. One such important enzyme is transketolase, which is involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, a metabolic pathway parallel to glycolysis.

Why Thiamine-Transketolase? When a diet is predominantly composed of polished rice, thiamine deficiency can occur because the rice lacks the nutrient content of unpolished rice. A deficiency in thiamine severely affects enzymes that require it as a cofactor, such as transketolase. Transketolase activity is often measured in patients suspected of thiamine deficiency, and a reduction in this enzyme's activity is indicative of thiamine deficiency.

Conclusion: Given the options and the relationship between thiamine and transketolase, the correct combination that reflects the dietary habits of consuming polished rice is Thiamine-transketolase deficiency.