Abstract
High dietary salt intake is associated with increased blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The migration of Somalis from East Africa to Norway may have altered their dietary habits, making them vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. Since little is known about the lifestyle and health status of this population, the purpose of our study was to estimate salt intake in Somali adults in Oslo, Norway. In this cross-sectional study, we included 161 Somali adults (76 men, 86 women) from the Sagene borough in Oslo, Norway. Sodium and potassium excretion was assessed through the collection of 24-hour urine. Creatinine-based exclusions were made to ensure completeness of urine collections. Sodium excretion corresponding to an estimated dietary salt intake of 8.66 ± 3.33 g/24 h was found in men and 7.39 ± 3.64 g/24 h in women (p = 0.013). An estimated 72% of participants consumed >5 g salt/day. The Na:K ratio was 2.5 ± 1.2 in men and 2.4 ± 1.1 in women (p = 0.665). In conclusion, estimated salt intake was, while above the WHO recommendation, within the lower range of estimated salt intakes globally and in Western Europe. Further research is required to assess the health benefits of sodium reduction in this Somali immigrant population.
Highlights
Increased dietary salt intake is widely acknowledged as a major determinant for raised blood pressure and hypertension [1,2,3] and has been found to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes [4,5]
Men and women had spent approximately the same number of years living in Norway
systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significantly higher in men compared to women (p < 0.001 for SBP and p = 0.003 for DBP)
Summary
Increased dietary salt intake is widely acknowledged as a major determinant for raised blood pressure and hypertension [1,2,3] and has been found to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes [4,5]. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015, hypertension has been the greatest contributor to mortality and morbidity over the last 25 years [6]. It is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is responsible for one-third of all global deaths [7]. Baseline data on salt intake are limited, especially among low- and middle-income communities, including immigrant populations living in high-income countries. This is troublesome considering growing evidence that immigrant communities bear a disproportionate burden of CVD.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
