You have just been hired by the World Health Organization to promote nutrition education and policies in a small country in Asia, whose population has a high prevalence of goitre. Which of the following policies would be the best to implement with respect to iodine status, cost, and efficiency?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fortifying the salt with iodine is the most cost-effective and efficient way to increase iodine intake in the population. Providing free supplements may not reach everyone and could be expensive to distribute. Educating the population to avoid all goitrogens is not practical as there are many healthy foods that are goitrogenic, such as cruciferous vegetables. Educating the population to spend more time at the beach is not a reliable source of iodine for everyone as not everyone has access to the ocean, and seafood intake can vary greatly among individuals.

You Have Just Been Hired by the World Health Organization