Question

Deficiency of iodine in food or water leads to
A. Color blindness
B. Simple goitre
C. Ophthalmic goitre
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Iodine is used in the production of thyroid hormones(T3 & T4) in the human body. The diseases related to thyroid hormones are known as goitre.

Step by step answer: Iodine is an element found in some foods like salts. The body requires iodine in order to produce thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones manage the metabolism of the human body among many other important functions. In addition to this, the body requires thyroid hormones for proper bone formation and brain development during pregnancy and infancy.
In option A, color blindness is mentioned. In this disease, the infected person is not able to differentiate among colors which are caused due to the deficiency of vitamin A.
In option B, simple goiter is mentioned. In this disease, the infected person has inflammation in the thyroid gland which is caused due to the deficiency of iodine. The thyroid gland produces the hormone thyroid from the iodine, the person intake with the food.
In option C, ophthalmic goiter is mentioned. In this disease, the infected person experiences protruding eyeballs. This happens due to the accumulation of fat behind the eyes. It caused due to the over secretion of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. This condition happens in Grave’s disease as well.
So, the correct answer is option B

Note: The symptoms of goiter are swelling of the neck, coughing, shortness of breath, weight gain, a tight feeling throat, the difficulty in swallowing, inability to tolerate heat.