Deficiency of which trace mineral element in human diet leads to simple goitre, marked by an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Iodine is a vital trace mineral required for synthesizing thyroxine and triiodothyronine hormones in the thyroid gland, and its deficiency leads to simple goitre. Iron deficiency causes anemia, whereas calcium is primarily associated with bone mineralization rather than thyroid function. Questions concerning micronutrient deficiencies and associated physiological disorders appear regularly in competitive biology sections.