Use iodine-rich salt, public urged

HEALTH officials urged the public to use salt with sufficient iodine content as a way to combat health disorders such as thyroid problems.

On the 24th anniversary since the passage of Republic Act 8172, the Regional Bantay Asin Task Force (RBATF) Central Visayas reminded the public to use salt with sufficient iodine content to prevent Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD.)

Dr. Parolita Mission, co-chair of RBATF-Central Visayas, called on the public to consume only iodized salt with a seal bearing the words “Saktong Iodine sa Asin” to ensure that the salt contains the required 15 ppm iodine.

As shown in the 8th National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology, adolescents 13 to 19 years old in Central Visayas had 21.6 percent median urinary iodine excretion (UIE), 21 percent among 20 to 59-years-old, and 26.2 percent among pregnant women.

More than 20 percent of the proportion of median UIE <50 ug/L among the age group indicates presence of iodine deficiency.

Iodine is a mineral used by the body to make thyroid hormones. A lack of iodine can cause thyroid problems such as goiter.

Iodine deficiency in pregnancy is the identified as the leading cause of preventable brain damage in newborns and infants. In serious deficiency, it can result in congenital abnormalities. (SunStar Cebu)