Associations between dietary salt, potassium and blood pressure in South African adults: WHO SAGE Wave 2 Salt & Tobacco
Date
2017Author
Ware, L.J.
Charlton, K.
Schutte, A.E.
Cockeran, M.
Naidoo, M.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background & aims
In June 2016, South Africa implemented legislation mandating maximum sodium levels in a range of processed foods with a goal of reducing population salt intake and disease burden from hypertension. Our aim was to explore the relationship between salt and blood pressure (BP) in a subsample of the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 2 before implementation of legislation in South Africa.
Methods & results
Blood pressure (BP) was measured in triplicate (n = 2722; median age 56 years; 33% male) and 24-h urine collected in a nested subsample (n = 526) for sodium, potassium and creatinine analysis. Hypertension prevalence was 55% in older adults (50-plus years) and 28% in younger adults (18–49 years). Median salt intake (6.8 g/day) was higher in younger than older adults (8.6 g vs 6.1 g/day; p < 0.001), and in urban compared to rural populations (7.0 g vs 6.0 g/day; p = 0.033). Overall, 69% of participants had salt intakes above 5 g/day. Potassium intakes were generally low (median 35 mmol/day) with significantly lower intakes in rural areas and older adults. Overall, 91% of adults failed to meet the daily potassium recommendation of 90 mmol/d. Salt intakes above 5 g/day, and to a greater extent, a dietary sodium-to-potassium (Na:K) ratio above 2 mmol/mmol, were associated with significantly steeper regression slopes of BP with age.
Conclusion
These preliminary results indicate that high dietary Na:K ratio may lead to a greater increase in BP and hypertension risk with age. Interventions to increase potassium intakes alongside sodium reduction initiatives may be warranted
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/25831https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939475317301382
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2017.06.017