Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies ; Vol.27 No.1 May 2012 ; Page 34-39
                                                            
                         
                     
                                                        
                        
                        
                            
                            
                                                                The UNICEF-GAIN Partnership Project 
The report notes that iodine deficiency is a leading cause of preventable brain damage worldwide. Insufficient iodine during pregnancy and infancy results in neurological and psychological deficits, reducing a child’s IQ by 8 to 10 points. This translates ...into major losses in the cognitive capital of entire nations and thus their socio-economic development.
The report outlines urgent steps to reduce the risk of mental impairment to babies’ growing brains:
• Integrate salt iodization into national plans to support children’s nutrition and brain development in early childhood; 
• Align salt iodization and salt reduction agendas;
• Establish surveillance systems to identify unreached populations; 
• Strengthen regulatory systems to enforce existing legislation on salt iodization; 
• Recognize the growing importance of fortified foods as potential sources of iodized salt.
                                                                    more