ARE ADOLESCENTS CONSUMING MORE SALT THAN RECOMMENDED?

Abstract

Objective: To study and compare the amount and pattern of sodium (Na) consumption in urban and rural school-going adolescents in Western India and identify high risk groups for conducting awareness programs. Design and method: 1850 subjects (urban- 935; rural- 915; Males-1012, Females -838) aged 14 - 17 years were recruited with prior permission from 5 schools in and around Mumbai. Data pertaining to demography, anthropometry and eating habits was collected. A self-administered semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to record consumption pattern of 22 high salt containing food items, divided into 5 categories (bakery, fried, packed, preserved and fast foods). Each participant‘s sodium consumption from these food items was calculated. Additional sodium consumption from regular meals was excluded. Data was analyzed using standard growth charts and MS Excel. Results: Only 13% of subjects added table salt. 67% and 81% brought homemade food for snacks and lunch respectively. Median Sodium consumption of the study population was 573 mg/day (∼ 1.5 g salt) (Q1-Q3:254 - 851 mg/day). There was no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) in the Median Na consumption of girls (454 mg/day) and boys (489 mg/day). Daily Median Na consumption was not significantly different (p < 0.05) in urban students (624 mg/day) as compared to rural (592 mg/day). Bakery and fried foods together comprised 51% of sodium consumption among the rural population, whereas all five food categories had almost equal representation in the urban population. 54% subjects’ BMI (34% urban, 20% rural) was above the normal range. Higher BMI values correlated significantly with higher daily Na consumption (p =0.001, Mann-Whitney test). Conclusions: The salt intake over and above the usual dietary salt consumption was high (∼ 2 g per day for urban and ∼1.8 g/day for rural adolescents). Nearly half the study population was found to be either overweight or obese. This double whammy has a singular potential for producing future hypertensives. Thus, targeted awareness and counselling programs for salt reduction in adolescents is the urgent need of the hour.