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Jai Ganesh

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Iodized Salt

Iodized Salt

Gist

Iodized salt is regular table salt with added iodine to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. The human body cannot produce iodine, a vital mineral needed for thyroid hormone production, which regulates metabolism and is critical for brain development. Adding iodine to salt is a global public health measure to ensure people get enough of this essential nutrient. 

Is iodized salt good for you?

Yes, iodized salt is good for you because it provides essential iodine, which is crucial for brain development and the production of thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism. It is an effective public health strategy to prevent iodine deficiency disorders, which can lead to goiter, mental retardation, and other developmental issues. However, salt should be consumed in moderation, as excess sodium can cause health problems like high blood pressure.

Summary

Iodised salt (also spelled iodized salt) is table salt mixed with a minuscule amount of various iodine salts. The ingestion of iodine prevents iodine deficiency. Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Deficiency also causes thyroid gland problems, including endemic goitre. In many countries, iodine deficiency is a major public health problem that can be cheaply addressed by purposely adding small amounts of iodine to the sodium chloride salt.

Iodine is a micronutrient and dietary mineral that is naturally present in the food supply in some regions (especially near sea coasts) but is generally quite rare in the Earth's crust. Where natural levels of iodine in the soil are low and vegetables do not take up the iodine, iodine added to salt provides the small but essential amount of iodine needed by humans.

An opened package of table salt with iodide may rapidly lose its iodine content in high temperature and high relative humidity conditions through the process of oxidation and iodine sublimation. Poor manufacturing techniques and storage processes can also lead to insufficient amounts of iodine in table salt.

Chemistry, biochemistry, and nutritional aspects

Four inorganic compounds are used as iodide sources, depending on the producer: potassium iodate, potassium iodide, sodium iodate, and sodium iodide. Any of these compounds supplies the body with the iodine required for the biosynthesis of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) hormones by the thyroid gland. Animals also benefit from iodine supplements, and the hydrogen iodide derivative of ethylenediamine is the main supplement to livestock feed.

Salt is an effective vehicle for distributing iodine to the public because it does not spoil and is consumed in more predictable amounts than most other commodities. For example, the concentration of iodine in salt has gradually increased in Switzerland: 3.75 mg/kg in 1922, 7.5 mg/kg in 1962, 15 mg/kg in 1980, 20 mg/kg in 1998, and 25 mg/kg since 2014. These increases were found to improve iodine status in the general Swiss population.

Salt that is iodized with iodide may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to excess air over long periods. Salts fortified with iodate are relatively stable to storage and heat; the main concern is reducing impurities in the salt itself, which can be removed relatively easily. Moisture accelerates the decomposition of iodate, but ceases to do so once reducing impurities are removed.

Contrary to popular belief, iodised salt cannot be used as a substitute for potassium iodide (KI) to protect a person's thyroid gland in the event of a nuclear emergency. There is not enough iodine in iodised salt to block the uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid.

Details

Salt iodization is an effective, safe and economical strategy to increase iodine intake in populations and ensure adequate iodine intakes. It is considered to be the most appropriate strategy for iodine fortification. Salt iodization has several advantages. Table salt is usually consumed in similar quantities throughout the year and is easily distributed. Its low cost means all socio-economic classes use it. In many countries, salt is produced in a few locations, which allows for easier quality control of iodization.

Salt is iodized using iodate or iodide, but iodate is a better choice in humid tropical areas because it is more stable and less soluble. Salt with 15–40 mg of iodine per kg is considered adequately iodized. This is based on a daily per capita consumption of 10 g of salt. When salt iodization is initiated in iodine-deficient regions, there is a rapid shift of the urine iodine concentration curve to the right indicating increased iodine intake. Successful implementation of a salt iodization program is defined as ≥ 90% of households consuming adequately iodized salt. In countries that monitor use of iodized salt, coverage ranges from less than 35% to ≥ 90%.

The efficacy of salt iodization programs depend on a number of factors including household economic status, education level and quality control efforts during preparation. At present, policies and regulations on salt iodization vary among countries. For example, in Canada iodization of table salt is mandatory, whereas in the United States salt iodization is voluntary. Regulations or recommendations on levels of iodine fortification of salt also differ among countries. Rapid test kits, despite limitations, are predominantly used to measure use of iodized salt in households and assess coverage of salt iodization programs. However, in many high-income countries including Canada, United States and Australia use of iodized salt is not regularly monitored.

Additional Information

Iodized salt is table salt with small amounts of iodine added, usually as potassium iodide, to ensure against dietary deficiency of iodine. Where iodized salt is used, particularly in Switzerland and the United States, endemic goitre has disappeared.

In the United States, iodized salt contains 1 part in 10,000 iodide; in Switzerland, 1 part in 200,000. The World Health Organization recommends 1 part in 100,000.

Iodine is a micronutrient which has a very crucial part to play in the development and functioning of our body. Although needed in a small quantity, it can have grave ramifications if not consumed in the recommended dose. Iodine deficiency causes serious health issues in pregnant women and in children. Iodine insufficiency may adversely affect mental development in children.

The Significance of iodine

Iodine is naturally found in seafood, dairy products, eggs and grains. Most countries iodize their salt to prevent iodine deficiency and its awful consequences. Iodine deficiency triggers a horde of symptoms ranging from mildly discomforting to severe to even perilous.

Here are the essential uses of the mineral in our body:

* Principally, the thyroid gland needs iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones, which are pivotal for the physical and mental growth and development, tissue repair and to regulate metabolism.

* Thyroid hormones, and indirectly iodine, have a part to play in the monitoring of body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate.

* Iodine also has a huge bearing on the functioning of the immune system.

The Relation Between Iodine and Mental Health

When the body’s iodine requirement is not met, the thyroid gland fails to manufacture adequate amounts of the thyroid hormones. Consequently, the amount of the thyroid hormones in the blood is low and it causes grave functional and developmental anomalies.

Iodine deficit is a major cause of poor mental developmental in children, causing a low IQ in school- going kids. The consequence of iodine deficiency during pregnancy is - an inadequate manufacture of the thyroid hormones by the mother and the foetus. As a result, there can be mental retardation in the child. In fact, impairment to the brain and irreversible mental retardation are the most severe disorders linked to a lack of iodine.

Experts state that a daily intake of salt that has been fortified with iodine is an efficient stratagem to prevent iodine deficiency. Consumption of iodized salt is sufficient to meet your everyday iodine requirement.

Iodized Salt – Vitally Important For Health

In India, iodine deficiency disorders comprise of an important causative factor of avoidable brain damage. The ramifications of iodine deficiency disorders are invisible and irreversible; but - preventable. We are prone to iodine deficiency disorders because of an iodine deficit in the soil of the subcontinent and accordingly in the food derived from it. Statistics reveal that about 350 million people do not consume iodized salt and are prone to iodine deficiency disorders. To circumvent the risk, our salt is reinforced with iodine. Iodized salt is a very efficient way to increase iodine intake in the population. As of today, iodized salt coverage in our country is 91% with only 71% people consuming sufficiently iodized salt. The National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Program’s (NIDDCP) goal in India is to decrease the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders below 10%.

Tata Salt ensures purity as well as the right amount of iodine. In fact, if you are wondering which is the best salt for your health requirements Tata Salt offers a whole range to choose from– Tata salt, Tata Salt Lite (Iodized and Low Sodium), Tata Salt Plus (Double Fortified Salt: Iron & Iodine), Tata Rock Salt and Tata Black Salt. Consult your physician and choose the right alternative from this range.

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