Iodized salt

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Iodized salt is table salt mixed with a minute amount of various iodine-containing salts. The ingestion of iodine prevents iodine deficiency. Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability.

History

The addition of iodine to salt is a widespread public health measure to prevent goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency. The concept of iodizing salt was first proposed in the early 20th century, with Switzerland and the United States among the first countries to implement mandatory salt iodization in the 1920s.

Production

Iodized salt is produced by spraying a solution of potassium iodate or potassium iodide onto table salt in a mixing process. The amount of iodine added varies by country but is generally at a level sufficient to provide the dietary requirement for iodine.

Health Benefits

Iodized salt is critical in preventing conditions related to iodine deficiency such as goiter, hypothyroidism, and various developmental disorders. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are crucial for metabolism, growth, and development.

Usage

While primarily used as a dietary supplement to prevent iodine deficiency, iodized salt is also used in cooking and food preservation. Its taste and appearance are generally indistinguishable from regular table salt.

Controversies

Despite its health benefits, there has been some controversy over iodized salt related to concerns over excessive iodine intake. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that the benefits of iodine supplementation far outweigh the risks for populations with insufficient iodine intake.

See also

• Salt
• Goiter
• Thyroid
• Micronutrient
• Public health

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