Clinical Edge

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Excess Sodium Intake in the US

Study looks at prevalence and risks

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Over 89% of adults and 93% of children exceeded recommendations for sodium intake in a study of 14,728 participants aged ≥ 2 years in the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES). Other study results determined:

• Among hypertensive adults, 86% exceeded 2,300 mg dietary sodium per day.

• Among adults aged ≥19 years, 89% consumed excess sodium.

• A larger proportion of men (98%) than women (80%) consumed more than 2,300 mg of dietary sodium per day, as did a larger proportion of adult whites (90%) than blacks (85%).

• Among children aged 2 to 18 years, 92% to 94% consumed excess sodium.

Citation: Jackson SL, Coleman King SM, Zhao L, Cogswell ME. Prevalence of excess sodium intake in the United States – NHANES, 2009-2012. MMWR. 64(52);1393-1397.

Commentary: Higher than recommended levels of sodium in the diet can lead to a higher prevalence of hypertension, which in turn increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Currently, 29% of the US population has hypertension. Lowering salt intake through diets like the DASH diet can improve systolic blood pressure by up to 6 mmHg.1 It is important to educate consumers that there are many hidden sources of salt, including breads and rolls, deli meats, pizza, poultry, soups, sandwiches, and cheeses. A combination of an improved food supply with less sodium and better-educated consumers making healthier choices is needed to decrease sodium intake in the American diet. —Neil Skolnik, MD

1. Aburto NJ, Ziolkovska A, Hooper L, Elliott P, Cappuccio FP, Meerpohl JJ. Effect of lower sodium intake on health: systematic review and meta- analyses. BMJ 2013; 346:f1326.

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