Deficiency of iodine in food or water leads to

Options

A. Colour blindness
B. Simple goitre
C. Ophthalmic goitre
D. None of these.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Text Solution:

1. **Understanding Iodine Deficiency**: Iodine is an essential nutrient required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. A deficiency in iodine can lead to various health issues, primarily affecting the thyroid gland.

2. **Identifying the Options**: The question provides four options:
- A) Color blindness
- B) Simple goiter
- C) Ophthalmic goiter
- D) None of these

3. **Evaluating Color Blindness**:
- Color blindness is a genetic disorder that affects an individual's ability to distinguish between colors. It is not caused by iodine deficiency.
- **Conclusion**: This option is incorrect.

4. **Evaluating Simple Goiter**:
- Simple goiter is characterized by the enlargement of the thyroid gland due to insufficient iodine in the diet.
- When iodine levels are low, the thyroid gland becomes hyperactive, leading to its enlargement as it attempts to produce more thyroid hormones.
- **Conclusion**: This option is correct as it is directly linked to iodine deficiency.

5. **Evaluating Ophthalmic Goiter**:
- Ophthalmic goiter, also known as exophthalmic goiter, is associated with hyperthyroidism and the overproduction of thyroid hormones.
- This condition leads to symptoms such as protrusion of the eyeballs, which is not related to iodine deficiency but rather to excessive thyroid hormone production.
- **Conclusion**: This option is incorrect.

6. **Final Conclusion**:
- The only condition among the options that is caused by iodine deficiency is simple goiter.
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is **B) Simple goiter**.