"Salt: the ultimate medicinal vehicle": American Geological Institute

Using as examples the role of salt in combatting lymphatic filariasis and iodine deficiency, the cover story of the June issue of Geotimes devoted six pages to "Salt of the Earth: the pubilc health community employs a mineral to fight infectious disease."  Pointing out that its economy and ubiquity make salt the "ideal vehicle" to fortify with minerals or medications, author Cassandra Willyard concludes:  "The saltshaker has become one of the most powerful weapons in the public health arsenal."

The article recounts the pioneering public health efforts to combat iodine deficiency by iodizing salt, quoting Venkatesh Mannar, executive director of the Ottawa-based Micronutrient Intitiative, explaining that salt is the "food that comes closest to being universally consumed."   Salt is preferred because "the risk of overdose is minimal because everyone eats a predictable amount."

Building on the success of salt iodization, salt was fortified with other additives, first fluoride to prevent dental caries and then chloroquine to prevent malaria and most recently DEC (diethylcarbamazine) to combat lymphatic filariasis.  Willyard featured the World Health Organization's ongoing work with DEC-fortified salt in Haiti and Guyana.

The article also broaches the question of the adequacy of iodine nutrition in the U.S. where substitution of processed foods using plain salt for home-cooked meals using iodized salt has led to a gradual decline in iodine intake levels.  Willyard includes the Salt Institute's views, noting "officials may think about adding iodized salt to processed foods, (Salt Institute president Richard L.) Hanneman says.  The important things, he adds, is to keep monitoring."