Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Sodium and Potassium Link to Obesity Evaluated
Obesity; ePub 2018 Jan 10; Elfassy, et al
Increased sodium intake led to higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat in Hispanic/Latino patients in a study involving >16,400 individuals. Meanwhile, increased potassium intake lowered BMI and WC, but only in certain patients. Participants were from the 2008 to 2011 Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Investigators assessed sodium and potassium intake from 24-hour diet recalls (n=16,156) and 24-hour urine (n= 447). They also looked at BMI, WC, and body fat. Among the results:
- Dietary sodium that was 500 mg/d higher was linked with a 0.07-kg/m2 higher BMI.
- It was also associated with a 0.18-cm larger WC.
- Dietary potassium that was 500 mg/d higher was linked with lower BMI (−0.13 kg/m2) and smaller WC (−0.36 cm) in foreign-born patients who lived in the US ≥10 years.
- In US-born patients, these levels were −0.62 kg/m2 and −1.42 cm, respectively.
- Urinary sodium that was 500 mg/d higher was linked with a 0.27-kg/m2 higher BMI.
- It was also associated with 0.54 kg more body fat.
Elfassy T, Mossavar-Rahmani Y, Van Horn L, et al. Associations of sodium and potassium with obesity measures among diverse us Hispanic/Latino adults: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. [Published online ahead of print January 10, 2018]. Obesity. doi:10.1002/oby.22089.