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Question

Enumerate haematopoietic vitamins. Explain the biochemical basis of the deficiency manifestations of any 'two' of them which lead to anaemia.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2025 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (25-May-2025)

Haematopoietic Vitamins:
Key vitamins essential for hematopoiesis include Folic Acid (B9), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin A (Retinol), Vitamin E (Tocopherols), and Riboflavin (B2).

Biochemical Basis of Deficiency Leading to Anemia:
Folic Acid: Required for DNA synthesis, transferring one-carbon units for deoxythymidylate formation. Deficiency impairs erythroid precursor division, causing ineffective erythropoiesis and large, immature red blood cells (megaloblasts), resulting in megaloblastic anemia.

Vitamin B12: Acts as a coenzyme for methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Its deficiency leads to the “folate trap”, where 5-methyltetrahydrofolate accumulates, reducing tetrahydrofolate availability for DNA synthesis. This mirrors folate deficiency, causing megaloblastic anemia. Accumulation of methylmalonic acid and impaired methionine synthesis also cause neurological symptoms due to defective myelin formation.

Both deficiencies disrupt DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing erythroid cells, highlighting the critical role of these vitamins in red blood cell maturation and hematopoiesis.

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