Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan
National Center for Public Health Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Title: Household iodized salt intake of the Mongolia
Biography
Biography: Enkhtungalag Batsaikhan
Abstract
Introduction: The prevention of iodine deficiency disorders through salt iodization has been a longstanding strategy in Mongolia and the proportion of households consuming iodized salt has increased in recent years. To meet government regulations, household salt must be fortified with iodine to at least 30 parts per million (ppm) and to at least 15 ppm to meet international monitoring standards. The objective of the survey was to assess the Iodized salt consumption of the household.
The iodine content of salt samples collected from households (n=2249) was measured at the NCPH laboratory using a quantitative titration method with test detection limit of 1.1 mg/kg.
Results: In the majority of households (78.9%), salt was adequately iodized with 15 ppm or more of iodine, while 17.3% of salt samples were not iodized and 2.6% were insufficiently iodized (> 0 and < 15 ppm). The median iodine content of iodized salt was 26.5 ppm with no variation by urban and rural area and little variation by region. The median iodine content of iodized salt was lowest in Western region (24.3 ppm) with the highest in Khangai region (27.5 ppm). Use of adequately iodized salt did not significantly difference with household wealth index.
Conclusions: In Mongolia use adequately iodized salts, it is no progress at national level (75.7% in 2010). Therefore, we should emphasize on rejuvenating domestic production of iodine fortified salt, and ensuring effective control and monitoring mechanisms for sale and use consumption of iodized salt, in place.