Question

The fortification of salt with ____ is a cost-effective approach to increasing intake of this micronutrient. Consumption of this fortified salt reduced the number of infants born with severe brain damage due to deficiency in the micro by more than half from 1990-2000.

a) Vitamin C
b) Iodine
c) Iron
d) Vitamin A

Answer 1

The fortification of salt with iodine is a cost-effective way to prevent iodine deficiency, which can cause severe brain damage in infants and conditions like goiter and cretinism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fortification of salt with iodine is a cost-effective approach to increasing the intake of this micronutrient. The consumption of this fortified salt led to a significant reduction in the number of infants born with severe brain damage due to iodine deficiency by more than half from 1990 to 2000. Iodine deficiency can lead to conditions like cretinism in children and goiter in adults. To combat this deficiency, iodine is added to table salt, creating what is known as iodized salt. This simple measure has been a public health success in many countries, though iodine deficiencies still exist where iodization programs are not implemented.