title: Self-monitoring urinary salt excretion in adults: A novel education program for restricting dietary salt intake.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the usefulness of the self-monitoring of urinary salt excretion for educating individuals about the risk of excessive dietary salt intake. The subjects were 30 volunteers (15 men and 15 women) not consuming anti-hypertensive medication. The subjects measured urinary salt excretion at home for 4 weeks using a self-monitoring device. Blood pressure (BP), anthropometric variables and nutritional variables (by a dietary-habits questionnaire) were measured before and after the measurement of urinary salt excretion. Statistical analyses were performed, including paired t-tests, Chi-square test, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis. In all subjects, the average urinary salt excretion over 4 weeks was 8.05±1.61 g/day and the range (maximum-minimum value) was 5.58±2.15 g/day. Salt excretion decreased significantly in weeks 3 and 4 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Diastolic BP decreased from 77.7±14.3 (at baseline) to 74.3±13.3 after 4 weeks (P<0.05), while systolic BP and anthropometric variables remained unchanged. Nutrition surveys indicated that energy intake was correlated with salt intake both before and after the measurements; changes in both variables during the observation period were correlated (r=0.40, P<0.05). The percentage of subjects who were aware of the restriction in dietary salt intake increased from 47 to 90%. In conclusion, daily monitoring of the amount of urinary salt excretion using a self-monitoring device appears to be an effective educational tool for improving the quality of life of healthy adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Science, Faculty of Health and Social Welfare Sciences, Nishikyushu University, Kanzaki;
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasutake
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawano
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Hatsumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amadera
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchihashi