On November 7, the Ministry of Health informed that "the arguments lacking scientific basis and evidence of some individuals and businesses in the past have caused public confusion, negatively affecting the efforts of the health sector in preventing and combating iodine deficiency disorders; at the same time, they go against the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws and policies."
Iodine deficiency causes thyroid disease (illustrative photo).
The Ministry of Health affirmed that "there is no concern regarding the public's use of iodized salt, including iodized salt used in households and in food processing. In Vietnam, there has never been a case of people having excess iodine."
According to the report of the Central Endocrinology Hospital and the Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam has not yet recorded any cases of patients with excess iodine. The results of the 2019-2020 Nutrition Survey showed that, in all groups of subjects, the median urinary iodine level was lower than recommended (specific data in the current situation section). The proportion of people with urinary iodine concentrations exceeding the threshold of 300 ppm was 0% (threshold > 300 ppm is the threshold of high urinary iodine). With this result, it is affirmed that the Vietnamese population still does not reach the recommended daily iodine intake. To date, there has been no medical literature mentioning the program of using iodized salt for the whole population (from 1994 to present) leading to consequences for thyroid disease.
Iodine deficiency or high iodine causing thyroid disease is also classified as a consequence of iodine deficiency, this is the WHO classification. In areas of severe iodine deficiency, there is an increased incidence of hyperthyroidism in autoimmune thyroid nodules and in people with subclinical hyperthyroidism when iodine supplementation is performed.
According to WHO, after 5-10 years of regular iodine supplementation, the incidence of hyperthyroidism will decrease, corresponding to areas without iodine deficiency. Hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disease, and medical treatment with synthetic antithyroid drugs is the main treatment. If medical treatment fails or immune factors remain high after a long period of medical treatment, surgery or radiation therapy should be chosen.
In Vietnam, according to Globocan 2020 data, as well as the situation in the world, thyroid cancer ranks 10th in the number of new cases, 6th in women in the rate of new cases of all cancers, 4 times higher than in men. The cause of cancer increase is due to the development of technology and people's awareness of early detection. There is no scientific document confirming that excess iodine causes thyroid cancer.
Previously, the Association and Food Association had opinions and recommendations regarding the use of iodine-fortified salt that changes in color, taste or has negative effects on consumers' health. However, the Ministry of Health has not received any scientific evidence from businesses regarding the use of iodine-fortified salt that changes in color, taste or has negative effects on consumers' health.
Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/thuong-xuyen-dung-muoi-i-ot-co-nguy-co-cuong-giap-khong-192241107154735802.htm
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