Stability of Iodine in Differently Iodised Salts
Authors: Siddiq Kalsoom , Samiullah Muhammad , Rashid Yamin , Ihsan Muhammad , Yasir Muhammad , Ali Fawad 
Published: June 2022

Iodine deficiency is a public health problem worldwide. Iodization of salt is a valuable technique to overcome iodine insufficiency. There are, however, problems in uniform iodization of salt. The study was conducted to investigate comparative stability and uniformity of mixing of iodine in iodized salt fortified with aqueous solution of KIO3 (powder grade salt) or the same compound added additionally in dry form (granular grade salt). The research study was conducted in the laboratory of Nutrition, Section of the Food science Division of Nuclear institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. Salt samples were prepared in a medium sized salt crushing facility at Lahore. These samples were transported in bulk packing to Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar. Following 3 types of samples will be prepared; powder grade salt fortified with 50 ppm of iodine as KIO3 solution using drip system, granular grade salt iodized with the same system without additional KIO3 (this grade of iodized salt always lacks complete and homogeneous iodization and needs addition of more iodine to attain the 50 ppm level) and granular grade salt iodized with additional KIO3 to make up the total to 50 ppm. the salt samples were packed in high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) packing separately. Analysis was carried out at the initial stage (0day) and subsequently at monthly interval up to fourth month. By standard iodometric titration all collected salt samples were tested for their iodine levels. Data were statistically analyzed using Statistix version 8.0. ANOVA were worked out by completely randomized design with factorial arrangement. Means were separated using Tucky HSD test. The mean moisture contents of salt packed in LDPE and HDPE varied significantly (P < 0.05), salt packed in LDPE showed higher average moisture contents than the salts packed in HDPE. Effect of iodization type was also significant (P<0.05) on the moisture contents of the salts. Granular salt iodized with drip and additional dry KIO3 had the highest moisture contents followed by granular salt iodized with drip system and the lowest moisture content was exhibited by powdered salt iodized with drip system only. The mean moisture contents of salt during different storage intervals were significantly (P < 0.05) different from each other, except during third and four month, With the salt showing higher average moisture contents during the last month and lowest in the first month. Effect of iodization type was also significant (P<0.05) on the moisture contents of the salt. Granular salt iodized with drip and additional dry KIO3 had the highest moisture contents followed by granular salt iodized with drip system and the lowest moisture content was exhibited by powdered salt iodized with drip system only. The mean moisture contents of salt during different storage periods were significantly (P < 0.05) different from each other, except during third and four month. The salt showed higher average moisture contents during the last month and lowest in the first month. Effect of packing material type was also significant (P<0.05) on the moisture contents of the salt. The mean moisture contents of salt packed in LDPE and HDPE varied significantly (P < 0.05).However, salt packed in LDPE showed higher average moisture contents than that of salts packed in HDPE. The powder salt retained iodine better than the other two salts types used. The iodine retention gradually decreased during storage periods. Among the packaging material used the salt in low density polyethylene showed higher moisture content. During storage intervals the average moisture content increased. The granular salt (grade II) showed maximum moisture content among the three salt types