Iodised salt (also spelled
iodized salt) is
table salt mixed with a minute amount of various salts of the element
iodine. The ingestion of iodine prevents
iodine deficiency. Worldwide, iodine deficiency affects about two billion people and is the leading preventable cause of
intellectual and developmental disabilities. Deficiency also causes
thyroid gland problems, including "endemic
goitre". In many countries, iodine deficiency is a major public health problem that can be cheaply addressed by purposely adding small amounts of iodine to the
sodium chloride salt.