Estimate of total salt intake in two regions of Belgium through analysis of sodium in 24-h urine samples.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate total salt intake in the adult population through an analysis of sodium in 24-h urine samples in two regions of Belgium.


METHODS
Urine samples were collected over 24 h from participants and they had to complete a specific questionnaire about salt intake afterwards. Sodium and creatinine concentrations were analysed in these samples.


METHODS
The target population comprised adults aged 45-65 years in the region of Ghent and Liege. A total of 123 and 157 volunteers from Ghent and Liege, respectively, were included in the study.


RESULTS
The mean creatinine level in Flanders (n=114) amounted to 0.173±0.035 mmol/kg/day, whereas in the Walloon region (n=135) it amounted to 0.161±0.036 mmol/kg/day, after the exclusion of subjects with incomplete urine collection. Intake of sodium in Flanders (n=114) was 4.29±1.29 g/day, whereas in the Walloon region (n=135) it was 3.94±1.44 g/day. In both regions, sodium intake in men was higher than in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Salt intake was more or less twice as high as the recommended intake. Salt intake as estimated from 24-h urine collections is substantially higher than that previously calculated on the basis of food consumption data. A salt reduction programme for Belgium is primordial.
Vandevijvere
S
S
Unit of Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium. stefanie.vandevijvere@iph.fgov.be
De Keyzer
W
W
Chapelle
J-P
JP
Jeanne
D
D
Mouillet
G
G
Huybrechts
I
I
Hulshof
P
P
Van Oyen
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine*; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine