THE SALT STUDY - SALT INTAKE IN ADOLESCENTS TODAY

Abstract

Objective: High daily salt consumption amongst adolescents is one of the most relevant etiological factors for future risk of hypertension and other lifestyle diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the amount and pattern of sodium (Na) consumption in urban and rural school-going adolescents and identify high risk groups for conducting awareness and intervention programs. Design and method: Subjects aged 12 - 15 years from 3 schools in and around Mumbai were given a questionnaire detailing their demographic, anthropometric data and eating habits. 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 analysed with MS Excel. Results: 1141 (urban- 565; rural- 576; Males-612,Females -524) participated. 13 % subjects added table salt while 62 % ate frozen foods < twice a month. Median Sodium consumption of the study population was 473 mg/day (~ 1 g salt) (Q1-Q3: 254 - 851 mg/day). Daily Median Na consumption was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in urban students (724 mg/day) as compared to rural (292 mg/day). Bakery and fried foods comprised 51% of sodium consumption amongst rural, whereas all five food categories had equal representation in the urban population. An alarming 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 g/day for rural adolescents). More than 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, counselling and intervention programs for salt reduction in adolescents is the urgent need of the hour.