Baseline and Estimated Trends of Sodium Availability and Food Sources in the Costa Rican Population during 2004-2005 and 2012-2013.

Adriana Blanco-Metzler,María De Los A Montero-Campos,Mary R L'Abbe,Branka Legetic,Rafael Moreira Claro,Ivannia Caravaca Rodríguez,Katrina Heredia-Blonval

doi:10.3390/nu9091020

Abstract

In 2012, Costa Rica launched a program to reduce salt and sodium consumption to prevent cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors, but little was known about the level of sodium consumption or its sources. Our aim was to estimate the magnitude and time trends of sodium consumption (based on food and beverage acquisitions) in Costa Rica. Data from the National Household Income and Expenditure Surveys carried out in 2004–2005 (n = 4231) and 2012–2013 (n = 5705) were used. Records of food purchases for household consumption were converted into sodium and energy using food composition tables. Mean sodium availability (per person/per day and adjusted for a 2000-kcal energy intake) and the contribution of food groups to this availability were estimated for each year. Sodium availability increased in the period from 3.9 to 4.6 g/person/day (p < 0.001). The income level was inversely related to sodium availability. The main sources of sodium in the diet were domestic salt (60%) in addition to processed foods and condiments (with added sodium) (27.4%). Dietary sources of sodium varied within surveys (p < 0.05). Sodium available for consumption in Costa Rican households largely exceeds the World Health Organization-recommended intake levels (<2 g sodium/person/day). These results are essential for the design and implementation of effective policies and interventions.

Highlights

Recent data on sodium intake show that populations around the world are consuming an amount of sodium that is excessive to what is physiologically necessary
Household energy and sodium availability in Costa Rica, unadjusted and adjusted to 2000 kcal, is shown in Table 1 according to the zone and year of survey
15% increase in per person household acquisition in less than a decade. This result is extremely relevant for public health, as it indicates the urgent need for effective actions capable of stopping this expansion and methods aiming to reduce sodium consumption in the country

Summary

Introduction

Recent data on sodium intake show that populations around the world are consuming an amount of sodium that is excessive to what is physiologically necessary. Intake exceeds the current World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on sodium consumption for adults, which is 2 g sodium/day (equivalent to 5 g salt/day) [1,2]. High blood pressure (hypertension) is the main risk factor for and the leading cause of death as well as being the second risk for disability related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) [4,5]. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVD in 2015, representing 31% of all deaths. Over three quarters of CVD deaths take place in low- and middle-income countries [6]

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