Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: December | Volume: 10 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 257-262
Types of Salt and Their Iodine Content in Rural Areas of Eastern Nepal: Is Consumption of Crystal Salt Still Prevalent?
Binaya Tamang1, Buddhi Raj Pokhrel1, Basanta Gelal2, Madhab Lamsal3, Nirmal Baral3
1Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Nepal
2Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
3Professor, Department of Biochemistry, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Corresponding Author: Binaya Tamang
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) is a global public health problem. It has many adverse effects on growth and development. Improper transportation facilities, lack of awareness, cultural preferences, and low socioeconomic status are some of the major contributors that determine the type of salt intake in Nepal.
Aims: This study aimed to find out the types of salt intake and their iodine content in rural areas of eastern Nepal.
Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was carried in three village development committees (VDCs) of Udayapur district, Nepal. Five schools were randomly selected and a total of 317 salt samples were collected from school children. Their types along with salt iodine content (SIC) were estimated in department of Biochemistry of BPKIHS, Dharan. Data were expressed in frequency and Chi-square analysis was performed to see the association between groups. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: A total of 79.5% consumed packet salt while 20.5% still had crystal salt. Out of total, 97.6% of packet salts were adequately iodized (>15 ppm), whereas 67.70% of the crystal salts had nil (0 ppm) iodine. Majority of the SIC were > 15 ppm (246, 77.6%), followed by 0 ppm (44, 13.88%) and <15 ppm (27, 8.5%). Among the VDCs, Katunjebawala had poor iodized salt intake and SIC status. SIC was significantly different between the types of salt and among the VDCs.Conclusions: Although there is a substantial improvement in the intake of adequate iodized packet salt, but people of rural area are still consuming crystal salt with low iodine intake which is definitely a matter of concern.
Key words: crystal salt, eastern Nepal, packet salt, salt iodine content.