Iodine Deficiency Disorders and Salt Iodisation - Public Health Implications

Abstract

Iodine deficiency disorders represent the broad negative health and development consequences as a result of low iodine in the diet. Iodine deficiency is a public health problem in many countries around the world and the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide. Pregnant women and young children present a group most susceptible to iodine deficiency. Salt iodization is a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable strategy for improving the iodine intake by the population and the control of iodine deficiency disorders. During the past twenty five years universal salt iodization was introduced in many countries worldwide and now two thirds of world’s population is consuming iodized salt. Salt is a vehicle for iodization but high salt intake correlates with high blood pressure, the leading factor for global mortality, deaths from coronary heart diseases and stroke. Two dominating global public health problems with clear commonalities are hypertension leading to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and IDD. They are both preventable and salt reduction does notcontradict to salt iodization. The concentration ofiodine in salt can easily be adjusted to meet policies aimed at reducing the consumptionof salt in order to prevent cardiovascular disease and to ensure adequate iodine intake of the population. The only groups at risk for low iodine intake when salt intake will be reduced are pregnant women and small children. In these cases careful monitoringof iodine status and eventually additional supplementation must be of high priority.