title: Sodium and potassium intake in South Africa: an evaluation of 24-hour urine collections in a white, black, and Indian population.
abstract: Limited number of studies on salt intake has been conducted in the South Africa. The present study established the sodium and potassium excretion (24-hour urine collection) of three different South African populations. In total, 692 successful 24-hour urine collections were analyzed for sodium, potassium, and iodine levels. The median sodium and potassium excretion was 122.9 and 33.5 mmol/d, respectively, and the median salt intake was 7.2 g/d. The majority (92.8%) of the population did not meet the recommended potassium intake/d, and 65.6% consumed more than 6 g of salt/d. Potassium excretion showed a linear relationship with salt intake (P-trend ≤ .001). The median sodium-to-potassium ratio was 3.5. These findings support the South African government's sodium reduction legislation, as well as global initiatives. More consideration should be given to promoting the intake of potassium-rich foods, as this may have a greater public health impact than focusing only on dietary sodium reduction.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Electronic address: biancaswanepoel.nwu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swanepoel
authors.affiliation: Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; MRC Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Aletta E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.affiliation: Statistical Consultation Services, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Marike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cockeran
authors.affiliation: Chronic Disease Initiative for Africa (CDIA), Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Krisela
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; MRC Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: Edelweiss
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wentzel-Viljoen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007455:Iodine / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000652:urine*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000652:urine*; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D007455:Iodine
keywords: Hypertension; South Africa; potassium; salt; sodium