Vitamins & Deficiency Diseases — Chemistry Mnemonic
Target: mnemonic for vitamins and deficiency diseases
Why is this hard to memorize?
Vitamins and their deficiency diseases are tested in NEET Chemistry (biomolecules), NEET Biology (nutrition), and general knowledge exams like UPSC and SSC. The key associations are: Vitamin A → Night blindness, B₁ → Beriberi, B₂ → Cheilosis, B₃ → Pellagra, B₆ → Anaemia, B₁₂ → Pernicious anaemia, C → Scurvy, D → Rickets, E → Sterility, K → Delayed blood clotting. You also need to know which are water-soluble (B complex, C) and which are fat-soluble (A, D, E, K = "ADEK"). A mnemonic that connects vitamin → disease → solubility triples your recall efficiency.
Classic mnemonics you should know
"ADEK — "A DEK(look) fat hai""
Vitamins A, D, E, K are fat-soluble — they dissolve in fat and are stored in the liver. Hindi: "ADEK fat hai" = "ADEK is fat." Everything else (B complex + C) is water-soluble.
"A=Night(Andha), B1=Beri-Beri, C=Scurvy(Sea sailors), D=Rickets(Bones), E=Sterility, K=Klotting"
A(Andha=blind at night), B1(Beri-Beri), C(Scurvy — sailors at sea had no fresh fruit), D(Rickets — weak bones in children), E(reproduction/sterility), K(Klotting — the K comes from German "Koagulation").
"A=Retinol(Retina), B1=Thiamine(Thi=B1), C=Ascorbic(A-Scurvy), D=Calciferol(Calcium), E=Tocopherol, K=Phylloquinone"
Chemical names often hint at function: Retinol → retina (vision), Ascorbic → anti-scurvy, Calciferol → calcium absorption. These etymological links help you remember functions too.
The complete list
- Vitamin A (Retinol) → Night blindness
- Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine) → Beriberi
- Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin) → Cheilosis
- Vitamin B₃ (Niacin) → Pellagra
- Vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxine) → Anaemia
- Vitamin B₁₂ (Cobalamin) → Pernicious anaemia
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) → Scurvy
- Vitamin D (Calciferol) → Rickets
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) → Sterility
- Vitamin K (Phylloquinone) → Delayed clotting
Frequently asked questions
How do I remember which vitamins are fat-soluble?
"ADEK" — Vitamins A, D, E, K are fat-soluble. Everything else (all B vitamins and Vitamin C) is water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body (mainly liver), so excess can cause toxicity. Water-soluble vitamins are excreted in urine, so they need regular dietary intake.
What is the difference between Beriberi and Pellagra?
Beriberi (B₁/Thiamine deficiency) affects nerves and heart — symptoms include weakness, nerve damage, and heart failure. Pellagra (B₃/Niacin deficiency) causes the "3 Ds": Dermatitis, Diarrhoea, Dementia. Both were common in populations eating polished rice (Beriberi) or corn-only diets (Pellagra).
Why is Vitamin C linked to sailors and scurvy?
Before the 18th century, sailors on long voyages ate only preserved food (no fresh fruits/vegetables) for months. Without Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), they developed scurvy — bleeding gums, loose teeth, bruising, and eventually death. James Lind discovered that citrus fruits prevented scurvy in 1747, leading to the British Navy issuing lime juice to sailors ("limeys").
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