Which micronutrient deficiency is the single most common preventable cause of intellectual disability worldwide?

• A Iron
• B Folate
• C Vitamin B12
• D Iodine ✓

Explanation

Iodine deficiency remains the most common preventable cause of intellectual disability globally. Maternal iodine deficiency impairs fetal thyroxine synthesis, producing endemic cretinism with severe mental retardation, deaf mutism, spastic diplegia, and short stature. Universal salt iodization is the mainstay of prevention. Iron deficiency is associated with reversible developmental delay, folate deficiency causes neural tube defects rather than endemic intellectual disability, and B12 deficiency produces neurological regression but is far less prevalent than iodine deficiency.

Reference: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.