title: [Measurement of dietary sodium intake in a group of children from one to 18 months of age in a pediatric service in Cali, Colombia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fatty streaks in an arterial wall can appear from the third year of age, and they show an association with atherogenic risk factors such as hypertension and sodium in the diet. Given the difficulty of data gathering, few studies report the intake of sodium in the diet.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine average sodium intake in the diet of children between one and 18 months of age through a three-day dietary survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study with 48 children without renal disease or diet restrictions seen in pediatric practice between January and June, 2011. It included a dietary survey for the parents, nutritional status classification by anthropometry, and blood pressure measurements. Sodium content and other nutrients in the diet program were analyzed with the International Food Consumption Program (CERES), anthropometry with the World Health Organization Anthro program, and Epi-info for socio-demographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 69% of children had high sodium consumption, 6.2% had high blood pressure, and 20.7% were overweight and obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of hypertension exceeds that reported for Colombia (1-3%). Two of the three children with high blood pressure had high sodium intake and they were overweight and obese, with values above those reported for Colombian children (16%). We suggest to measure blood pressure early, and to restrict salt and sugar in food for infants and children under two years of age. Also, larger studies should be conducted to collect population data on sodium intake and develop appropriate and timely intervention strategies to reduce risks in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Grupo Cuidado en Salud, Programa de Enfermería, Universidad Libre, Cali, Colombia; Centro de Estudios en Infectología Pediátrica, Sección de Nutrición, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. adelaisa@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Adela Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolaños
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gracia
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000886:Anthropometry; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary
keywords: Diet; arterial pressure; feeding; infant; sodium; sodium chloride