National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

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Which vitamin deficiency is primarily responsible for night blindness?

  1. Vitamin A

  2. Niacin

  3. Calcium

  4. Vitamin D

The correct answer is: Vitamin A

Night blindness is primarily associated with a deficiency in vitamin A. This vitamin plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy vision, particularly in low-light conditions. Vitamin A is essential for the production of rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retina that is necessary for seeing in dim light. When there is an insufficient amount of vitamin A in the body, the ability to adjust from bright to dark environments diminishes, leading to night blindness. While niacin, calcium, and vitamin D are important for various bodily functions, they do not have a direct connection to the process of vision in low-light conditions like vitamin A does. Niacin is involved in energy metabolism and overall health, calcium is vital for bone health and muscle function, and vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. None of these nutrients play a direct role in the synthesis of visual pigments required for normal night vision, making vitamin A the key nutrient in preventing night blindness.