Blood Pressure Association with Sodium Intake from Snacks Among Undergraduates of Afe Babalola University, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study was to assess the association between blood pressure (BP) values and sodium intake from snacks. Methods The mean weekly consumption of snacks was evaluated in 1500 randomly selected undergraduate aged 16–24 years by a food frequency questionnaire. Participants were divided into quartiles of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The mean weekly exercise level was calculated as the product of duration and frequency of each activity (in hours/week), weighted by an estimate of the metabolic equivalent of the activity (MET) and summed for the activities performed. The whole cohort was divided into tertiles of exercise and the individuals were classified as; sedentary, moderately active and active. The cut of points in the whole cohort were respectively; ≤10, 11–29, ≥30 MET h/week. Exercise levels were therefore expressed as MET h/week. Results The mean age, metabolic equivalent of activity (METs), body mass index (BMI) and mean sodium intake from snacks per day were; 20.10 ± 1.44 years, 25.51 ± 10.03 METs h/week, 24.86 ± 4.80 kg/m2 and 1.5 g/day respectively. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ranges between 104.43 ± 4.89 mmHg and 137.27 ± 16.71 mmHg while the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ranges from 71.24 ± 7.83–83.11 ± 12.03 mmHg. The SBP and DBP significantly increased from the lower to the higher tertile of sodium from snacks and with increasing frequency of salty snacks consumption (P < 0.001). In the multiple logistic regression model, being in the highest SBP quartile (≥115 mmHg) was significantly associated with consumption of sodium from snacks (odds ratio (OR) = 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.82; P = 0.001), age, gender and body mass index. Also, being in the highest DBP quartile (≥70 mmHg) was significantly associated with consumption of sodium from snacks (odds ratio (OR) = 2.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41–5.69; P = 0.003), age, body mass index, but not with gender. Conclusions The study has shown that a strong association exists between sodium intake from snack, daily frequency of consumption of salty snacks and blood pressure. Public education and social marketing are needed to motivate the undergraduate to choose healthier snacks with lower sodium content. Funding Sources The study did not receive any funding from any source.