Question

A pregnant female delivers a baby who suffers from stunted growth, mental retardation, low intelligence quotient and abnormal skin. This is the result of:

• A. Deficiency of iodine in diet
• B. Low secretion of growth hormone
• C. Cancer of the thyroid gland
• D. Over secretion of pars distalis

Answer 1

The correct option is A Deficiency of iodine in diet

Iodine is essential for the normal rate of hormone synthesis in the thyroid. Deficiency of iodine in our diet results in hypothyroidism and enlargement of the thyroid gland, commonly called goitre. Hypothyroidism during pregnancy causes defective development and maturation of the growing baby leading to stunted growth (cretinism), mental retardation, low intelligence quotient, abnormal skin, deaf- mutism, etc.