title: Potassium urinary excretion and dietary intake: a cross-sectional analysis in 8-10 year-old children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data from studies assessing the intake of potassium, and the concomitant sodium-to-potassium ratio are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate potassium and sodium-to-potassium ratio intake in 8-10 year-old children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was carried out from January to June 2014 and data from 163 children (81 boys) were included. Potassium intake was estimated by 24-h urine collection and coefficient of creatinine was used to validate completeness of urine collections. Urinary sodium and sodium-to-potassium ratio were also analysed. A 24-h dietary recall was used to provide information on dietary sources of potassium. Height and weight were measured according to international standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean urinary potassium excretion was 1701 ± 594 mg/day in boys, and 1682 ± 541 mg/day in girls (p = 0.835); 8.0% of children met the WHO recommendations for potassium intake. The mean sodium excretion was 2935 ± 1075 mg/day in boys and 2381 ± 1045 mg/day in girls (p <0.001) and urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio was 3.2 ± 1.4 in boys, and 2.5 ± 1.1 in girls (p = 0.002). The mean fruit and vegetable intake was 353.1 ± 232.5 g/day in boys, and 290.8 ± 213.1 g/day in girls (p = 0.101).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reported a low compliance of potassium intake recommendations in 8-10 year-old children. Health promotion interventions are needed in order to broaden public awareness of potassium inadequacy and to increase potassium intake.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. catarinaoliveirav@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana Catarina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. patriciapadrao@fcna.up.pt.|Institute of Public Health - University of Porto (ISPUP), Porto, Portugal. patriciapadrao@fcna.up.pt.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Padrão
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. andremoreira@med.up.pt.|Department of Immunoallergology, Hospital of São João, Rua Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal. andremoreira@med.up.pt.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. mariana_cpinto@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. mafalda_netto@hotmail.com.|Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. mafalda_netto@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. up201306566@fc.up.pt.|Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. up201306566@fc.up.pt.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. jvm@fe.up.pt.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madureira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. eof@fe.up.pt.
authors.forename: Eduardo de Oliveira
authors.initials: Ede O
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. pedrograca@dgs.pt.|Directorate General for Health (Direcção Geral de Saúde), Lisbon, Portugal. pedrograca@dgs.pt.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Graça
authors.affiliation: Division of Noncommunicable Diseases and Life-course, WHO Regional Office for Europe, UN City, Copenhagen, Denmark. jbr@euro.who.int.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, 4200-465, Portugal. pedromoreira@fcna.up.pt.|Research Centre on Physical Activity and Health, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa, 91, Porto, 4200-450, Portugal. pedromoreira@fcna.up.pt.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moreira
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents; D011174:Portugal; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine*; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D012964:Sodium; D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium