NNC 7 to Public: Prevent Goiter with Iodized Salt

In observance of the annual Goiter Awareness Week every fourth week of January, the National Nutrition Council Region 7 reminds the public to follow Kumainment No. 7: Use iodized salt.

Many studies have shown that using iodized salt is an effective way of improving one’s iodine status.

Iodine is a trace mineral commonly found in many saltwater- and plant-based food, but it is widely available in iodized salt.

“It is important to get enough iodine in our diet. It helps improve our thyroid health, reduce risk of goiter, combat iodine deficiency disorders, regulate hormones, and improve brain development in the fetus,” said NNC 7 Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Dr. Parolita A. Mission.

The prevalence of thyroid function abnormalities in the Philippines is 8.53% among the adult population. Goiter is the most common among thyroid disorders with a prevalence rate of 10.12%, according to the 2012 Philippine Thyroid Diseases Study.

The 2013 National Nutrition Survey shows that about 5.8 million Filipinos have thyroid disorders in different clinical presentations. They manifest as goiter, thyroid malignancy, mental deficiency, physical deformities, congenital hypothyroidism, cretinism, and reproductive failure.

Individuals with goiter often manifest an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. Signs and symptoms of goiter may include tiredness, a decrease or increase in weight, low or increased appetite, depression, dryness of skin and hair, sleepiness, diarrhea or constipation, and menstrual irregularities for women.

NNC Region 7 advises the public to use iodized salt in their meals and eat iodine-rich food, such as seafood (shellfish and seaweed), bread, eggs, meat, and dairy products. The agency also urges individuals who are experiencing symptoms of goiter to immediately see a doctor.

Pregnant women should be given extra and special attention because iodine deficiency during this critical period can cause premature birth, miscarriage, or delivery of a baby with low intellect.

The World Health Organization warns against excessive intake of iodized salt and recommends less than five grams or one teaspoon of iodized salt per day. WHO also points out that a woman’s iodine requirements increase substantially during pregnancy to ensure adequate supply to the fetus.

If iodine deficiency disorders go untreated, they can lead to a detrimental reduction of intellectual and physical capacity and even death among susceptible individuals.

To help increase the public awareness on goiter, the fourth week of January every year was declared in 2006 as Goiter Awareness Week by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1188.

For more information about Goiter Awareness Week-related initiatives in Central Visayas, follow the Facebook page of NNC Region 7 (@NNCRVII), and visit its website: bit.ly/2n2LR8w.