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Estimate of total salt intake in two regions of Belgium through analysis of sodium in 24-h urine samples

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 1260–1265 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives:

To evaluate total salt intake in the adult population through an analysis of sodium in 24-h urine samples in two regions of Belgium.

Methods:

Urine samples were collected over 24 h from participants and they had to complete a specific questionnaire about salt intake afterwards. Sodium and creatinine concentrations were analysed in these samples.

Subjects:

The target population comprised adults aged 45–65 years in the region of Ghent and Liege. A total of 123 and 157 volunteers from Ghent and Liege, respectively, were included in the study.

Results:

The mean creatinine level in Flanders (n=114) amounted to 0.173±0.035 mmol/kg/day, whereas in the Walloon region (n=135) it amounted to 0.161±0.036 mmol/kg/day, after the exclusion of subjects with incomplete urine collection. Intake of sodium in Flanders (n=114) was 4.29±1.29 g/day, whereas in the Walloon region (n=135) it was 3.94±1.44 g/day. In both regions, sodium intake in men was higher than in women.

Conclusion:

Salt intake was more or less twice as high as the recommended intake. Salt intake as estimated from 24-h urine collections is substantially higher than that previously calculated on the basis of food consumption data. A salt reduction programme for Belgium is primordial.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Epidemiology, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium

    S Vandevijvere & H Van Oyen

  2. Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    W De Keyzer & I Huybrechts

  3. Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    J-P Chapelle, D Jeanne & G Mouillet

  4. Department of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    P Hulshof

Authors
  1. S Vandevijvere
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  2. W De Keyzer
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  3. J-P Chapelle
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  4. D Jeanne
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  5. G Mouillet
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  6. I Huybrechts
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  7. P Hulshof
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  8. H Van Oyen
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Correspondence to S Vandevijvere.

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Vandevijvere, S., De Keyzer, W., Chapelle, JP. et al. Estimate of total salt intake in two regions of Belgium through analysis of sodium in 24-h urine samples. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 1260–1265 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.148

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