Bai 8 - Vitamin D

8
READING PASSAGE
A Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that the body is able to store in large amounts. Most often vitamin D
is stored in the liver and in the fatty tissue. The body needs vitamin D to maintain normal blood levels
of phosphorus and calcium - two main minerals involved in the formation of bone. Vitamin
D facilitatesthe absorption of calcium from the diet. It may also be useful in preventing osteoporosis,
high blood pressure and cancer.

B Vitamin D deficiency specifically has been linked to bone disease. In children vitamin D deficiency is
called rickets and in adults it is called osteomalacia. In either case, low vitamin D has numerous
detrimental effects on the body.

C Infants who suffer from severe vitamin D deficiency develop a condition called rickets.
Often infants who only take in breast milk, darker-skinned babies and children with parents with
vitamin D deficiency are at a greater risk for rickets. Symptoms include bone pain or tenderness,
teeth deformities and cavities, growth retardation, frequent bone fractures, short stature, bowlegs,
spine deformities and bumps in the chest and breastbone. Treatment for rickets focuses on
administering vitamin D in order to normalize the child's vitamin D levels. Braces and support can
help prevent skeletal deformities, but some of the permanent defects may require corrective surgery.

D In adults, vitamin D deficiency, or osteomalacia, often causes muscle and bone weakness. Adults
are done growing by the time osteomalacia begins so they rarely develop skeletal deformities or
growth problems. However, osteomalacia is correlated with a decrease in skeletal structural integrity.
These bones are weaker than normal bones and therefore the patient may experience aches and
pains especially in the joints. Osteomalacia can also cause muscles pain and weakness.
The diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency is sometimes difficult, but once the diagnosis is made
treatment with vitamin D supplementation usually reverses the symptoms.

E The main way to satisfy your Vitamin D requirement comes from exposure to sunlight. Your skin is
able to synthesize vitamin D when exposed to adequate amounts of sunlight. Furthermore, vitamin D
is found in foods such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Fish oil, also contains vitamin D. In the
United States, some forms of milk, juice, breads, yogurts and cheesed are fortified with vitamin D.
There are alsodietary supplements and pharmaceutical preparations that contain vitamin D. These
man-made forms of vitamin D are usually given to patients suffering from or at risk of developing
vitamin D deficiency.
8
Questions 1-5
The Reading Passage has five paragraphs, A–E.
Choose the correct headings for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i–viii, in blanks 1–5.
List of Headings
i. Causes of osteomalacia
ii. Sources of vitamin D
iii. Low level of vitamin D in children: symptoms & cure
iv. Lack of vitamin D and its risks
v. How to take vitamin D supplements
vi. Essential vitamins for your body
vii. Fundamental roles of vitamin D
viii. Adverse effects of lacking vitamin D on mature people
1. Paragraph A _____
2. Paragraph B _____
3. Paragraph C _____
4. Paragraph D _____
5. Paragraph E _____
8
Questions 6-9
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage?
In blanks 6–9, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
6. Babies whose parents suffer from Vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop rickets.
7. Children with rickets need corrective surgery as soon as possible.
8. Adults who have a low level of Vitamin D often develop skeletal deformities.
9. Vitamin D is chiefly produced in the skin by exposure to sunlight.
10. Most foods contain very little amount of vitamin D.

8
Vocabulary Review
I. Scan the passage for the following words (on the left) and read the sentences containing them carefully.
Match these words with their definitions (on the right).
Words Definitions
1. deformity (n) a) medical treatment in which a doctor cuts open someone's body
2. deficiency (n) b) a state when a part of the body has not developed in the normal way or with the normal shape
3. surgery (n) c) a sign that someone has an illness
4. diagnosis (n) d) a state of not having, or not having enough, of something that is essential
5. symptom (n) e) the act of discovering and identifying the exact cause of an illness or a problem
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
II. Complete the following sentences using the suitable words in the box below.

Sometimes you have to change the form of the words to make them grammatically correct in the sentences.
deformity - deficiency - surgery - diagnosis - symptom
1. He had to undergo on his heart.
2. Pregnant women often suffer from iron .

8
3. The of flu may last several days.
4. X-rays can identify his old leg .
5. Early and treatment can prevent serious health problems.

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8

The Reading Passage has five paragraphs, A–E.

Write the correct number, i–viii, in blanks 1–5.

In blanks 6–9, write

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

7. Children with rickets need corrective surgery as soon as possible.

9. Vitamin D is chiefly produced in the skin by exposure to sunlight.

10. Most foods contain very little amount of vitamin D.

3. surgery (n) c) a sign that someone has an illness

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

II. Complete the following sentences using the suitable words in the box below.

deformity - deficiency - surgery - diagnosis - symptom

1. He had to undergo on his heart.

2. Pregnant women often suffer from iron .

3. The of flu may last several days.

4. X-rays can identify his old leg .

5. Early and treatment can prevent serious health problems.

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