DOH asks public to use iodized salt

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-Central Visayas is reiterating its call for everyone to use iodized salt.

Regional Director Susana Madarieta yesterday said that eighty to ninety in every one-hundred households in Central Visayas are using iodized salt since the nationwide salt iodization campaign started in 1995.

“So far, in our monitoring, the percentage of households using iodized salt is increasing. In the market, 90 percent are selling iodized salt,” Madarieta said.

She added that most families are already aware of the health benefits in using iodized salt.

The health department’s program seeks to curb iodine deficiency. Madarieta said a person needs iodine as precursor for the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and trilodothyronine. Insufficient iodine in the body will lower the production of these hormones and cause iodine deficiency disorder (IDD).

Iodine deficiency disorder could result in mental retardation, goiter or enlarged thyroid, physical sluggishness, growth retardation, reproductive failure, increased childhood mortality and other defects in development of the nervous system, among others.

In a study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology, it was revealed that the percentage of households using iodized salt is increasing.

Nationwide salt iodization started in 1995 when Republic Act No. 8172, otherwise known as an “Act Promoting Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN)” was signed into law.

Leah Perlas, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the FNRI-DOST, said that pregnant women need 200 micrograms of iodine per day.

The iodine requirement is more during pregnancy to provide for the needs of the fetus and to compensate for increased loss of iodine in the urine.

The lack of iodine in the diet in pregnant women may cause complications or even miscarriage, Perlas added.

During pregnancy, IDD may develop adverse effect on fetal development such as mental retardation, low birth weight, and neuro-muscular abnormalities.

Perlas recommends eating food rich in iodine in the daily meals like fish, shellfish, and seaweeds. — (FREEMAN)