title: High sodium and low potassium intake among Italian children: relationship with age, body mass and blood pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is the leading cause of death in developed countries and reduction of salt intake is recommended as a key preventive measure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the dietary sodium and potassium intakes in a national sample of Italian children and adolescents and to examine their relationships with BMI and blood pressure (BP) in the framework of the MINISAL survey, a program supported by the Italian Ministry of Health.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 1424 healthy subjects (766 boys, 658 girls) aged 6-18 years (mean age: 10.1±2.9) who were consecutively recruited in participating National Health Service centers in 10 Italian regions. Electrolyte intake was estimated from 24 hour urine collections tested for completeness by the concomitant measurement of creatinine content. Anthropometric indices and BP were measured with standardized procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average estimated sodium intake was 129 mmol (7.4 g of salt) per day among boys and 117 mmol (6.7 g of salt) among girls. Ninety-three percent of the boys and 89% of the girls had a consumption higher than the recommended age-specific standard dietary target. The estimated average daily potassium intakes were 39 mmol (1.53 g) and 36 mmol (1.40 g), respectively, over 96% of the boys and 98% of the girls having a potassium intake lower than the recommended adequate intake. The mean sodium/potassium ratio was similar among boys and girls (3.5 and 3.4, respectively) and over 3-fold greater than the desirable level. Sodium intake was directly related to age, body mass and BP in the whole population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Italian pediatric population is characterized by excessive sodium and deficient potassium intake. These data suggest that future campaigns should focus on children and adolescents as a major target in the framework of a population strategy of cardiovascular prevention.
authors: Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Campanozzi
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy.
authors: Sonia
authors: S
authors: Avallone
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Barbato
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Iacone
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy.
authors: Ornella
authors: O
authors: Russo
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service d'Endocrinologie et Diabétologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors: Gianpaolo
authors: G
authors: De Filippo
authors: Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: D'Angelo
authors: Pediatrics, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Licia
authors: L
authors: Pensabene
authors: Pediatrics Hospital of Cava dei tirreni (SA), Italy.
authors: Basilio
authors: B
authors: Malamisura
authors: Pediatrics, ASL-Naples, Italy.
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Cecere
authors: Pediatrics, ASL-Naples, Italy.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Micillo
authors: Pediatrics, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Ruggiero
authors: R
authors: Francavilla
authors: Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Tetro
authors: Pediatrics, Santo Spirito Hospital, Pescara, Italy.
authors: Giuliano
authors: G
authors: Lombardi
authors: Pediatrics, University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Tonelli
authors: Pediatrics, ASL Umbria, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Castellucci
authors: Pediatrics, ASL Umbria, Perugia, Italy.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Ferraro
authors: Pediatrics, University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Di Biase
authors: Pediatrics, University of Torino, Italy.
authors: Antonella
authors: A
authors: Lezo
authors: Pediatrics, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Salvatore
authors: Pediatrics, ASL-Roma, Rome, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Paoletti
authors: Epidemiology & Population Genetics, Institute of Food Science & Technology, National Research Council, Avellino, Italy (AS).
authors: Alfonso
authors: A
authors: Siani
authors: Italian Ministry of Health, Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Galeone
authors: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University of Naples Medical School, ESH Excellence Centre of Hypertension, Naples, Italy.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Strazzullo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001794:Blood Pressure; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D011188:Potassium