Nutrition and malnutrition: essential fatty acid deficiency: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Nutrition and malnutrition: essential fatty acid deficiency

Sample item

An infant on long-term fat-free parenteral nutrition develops scaly dermatitis, sparse hair, thrombocytopenia and poor growth. Deficiency of which nutrient is likely?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Linoleic acid

Linoleic acid cannot be synthesised by humans and is needed for skin barrier function and platelet function. Fat-free parenteral feeding causes essential fatty acid deficiency, and giving a lipid emulsion corrects it.

Option by option

  • A. Oleic acid

    Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that the body can synthesise.

  • B. Linoleic acid (correct)

    Correct. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, and its lack causes dermatitis and thrombocytopenia.

  • C. Palmitic acid

    Palmitic acid is a saturated fat made by the body.

  • D. Lauric acid

    Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fat and is not essential.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is B, Linoleic acid. Linoleic acid cannot be synthesised by humans and is needed for skin barrier function and platelet function.

Why is "Oleic acid" not the answer?

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that the body can synthesise.

Why is "Palmitic acid" not the answer?

Palmitic acid is a saturated fat made by the body.

Why is "Lauric acid" not the answer?

Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fat and is not essential.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nutrition and malnutrition: essential fatty acid deficiency in Pediatrics. Fat-free parenteral feeding causes essential fatty acid deficiency, and giving a lipid emulsion corrects it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Nutrition and malnutrition: essential fatty acid deficiency?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.