A pregnant female delivers a baby who suffers from stunted growth, mental retardation, low intelligence quotient and abnormal skin. This is the result of
- cancer of the thyroid gland
- oversecretion of pars distalis
- deficiency of iodine in diet
- low secretion of growth hormone.
Answer
(3) deficiency of iodine in diet
Solution
As per NCERT, 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.
⇒ Deficiency of iodine in the diet results in hypothyroidism (and enlargement of the thyroid gland, goitre).
∴ The condition is the result of deficiency of iodine in diet.
Answer: (3)