A move by Uzbekistan’s government to legislate universal salt iodization will prevent thousands of stillbirths and save many newborns from suffering brain damage, as well as boosting the national economy, Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

ADB, which has long supported governments’ efforts in combating malnutrition in Central Asia, said the passage of the new law this week brought Uzbekistan a step closer to providing its people with essential micronutrients that millions lack in their diet.

Malnutrition is the most pressing health problem facing Central Asia and the single biggest contributor to child mortality. A malnourished person may show no outward sign of problems to a casual observer, but their bodies lack essential micronutrients usually gained from having a balanced diet.

One of the most common forms of malnutrition is iodine deficiency. When ADB started working on the issue in Central Asia, the disorder was prevalent among more than half of the child population and caused widespread stillbirths, spontaneous abortions and premature deaths, stunted growth and blunted intelligence.

Malnutrition is blamed for costing Central Asian countries millions of dollars in lost revenue from a lack of productivity from their workforces, as well as straining their health systems. Iodine deficiencies alone have been blamed for shaving up to 1% of Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product in recent years.

The most effective way to combat the problem is to add iodine to salt as it is being produced. But without legislation, many producers refuse to add it because of the extra cost, even though it is minimal. The new law, which was approved by Parliament on 29 March 2007 and signed by President Islam Karimov on 3 May 2007 will require all salt producers to add iodine to their products.

"This new law will help reduce iodine deficiency that is the leading cause of preventable mental impairment, which significantly decreases mental capacity and labor potential of the workforce," said ADB Country Director for Uzbekistan Hong Wei.

If the new law is backed up by strong action from the government, it is hoped that iodine deficiencies may be virtually eliminated by 2010 in Uzbekistan, as well as other Central Asian countries that have already passed similar legislation.

But Wei stressed that much still needs to be done and that Uzbekistan’s government must continue in pursuing other measures to ensure proper nutrition for its people.

"We hope that a similar step will be taken in the area of fortifying wheat flour," Wei said.

Flour is often fortified with iron, which combats anemia, a disorder that causes the deaths of pregnant women and constrains the cognitive development of children.

Uzbekistan joins other nations in the region - Azerbaijan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia - in enacting a Universal Salt Iodization Law.