American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Which condition is associated with Vitamin D deficiency?

1. Nyctalopia

2. Rickets

3. Hemolytic anemia

4. Xerosis cutis

The correct answer is: Rickets

The association of Vitamin D deficiency with certain health conditions is well-documented, and rickets is one of the classic disorders linked to this deficiency. Rickets is characterized by the softening and weakening of bones in children, primarily due to a lack of Vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphate in the intestines. Without adequate Vitamin D, the body struggles to maintain adequate bone mineralization, leading to the hallmark signs of rickets, such as deformities of the skeleton, dental problems, and delayed growth. Nyctalopia, or night blindness, is typically associated with deficiencies in Vitamin A rather than Vitamin D. Hemolytic anemia can occur due to various nutritional deficiencies, but it is more widely related to Vitamin E deficiency or conditions affecting red blood cell integrity. Xerosis cutis, which refers to dry skin, can be a result of a number of factors but is not specifically linked to Vitamin D deficiency. Thus, the link between Vitamin D deficiency and rickets is well established, making rickets the correct condition associated with this nutritional deficiency.