Sodium intake far too high
for Americans
Newswise
— Despite counseling by physicians, Americans still consume
far too much sodium, putting them at risk for high blood
pressure, heart disease and stroke, according to a new study
in the latest issue of the American Journal of Preventive
Medicine.
Although people who
already have high blood pressure, or hypertension, generally
consume less sodium than others, their average daily intake
is still far higher than recommended levels, according to
lead researcher Umed Ajani, an epidemiologist with the
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Promotion.
Ajani and colleagues
analyzed data collected in 1999 and 2000 from a random
sample of more than 4,000 Americans who were part of a
regular government health survey. They found that 42 percent
of those surveyed had high blood pressure. Incidence of high
blood pressure is usually about one-third for an average
group, Ajani said.
“Perhaps the most striking
finding is that no difference in sodium intake was observed
between those who received advice … and those who did not,”
Ajani said.
Participants’ sodium
intake was computed from what they reported having eaten and
drunk during the 24 hours before their interview.
People with hypertension
took in 3,330 mg of sodium a day and people without
hypertension consumed 3,600 mg a day, far more than the
2,400 mg maximum recommended by the American Heart
Association and other groups.
Survey participants were
also asked if their doctors had ever advised them about
dietary sodium. There was no difference in sodium intake
between patients advised about sodium consumption and those
who were not.
“It seems like we need to
do a little bit more than just advising,” Ajani said,
calling for more public health and private physician efforts
to educate consumers on the selection, preparation and use
of processed and fast foods.
A widespread misconception
exists that salt content and sodium content are synonymous,
Adjani said, and people may need to be told that foods that
do not taste salty can still contain high levels of sodium.
For example, a doughnut
can have as much as 257 mg of sodium, about 10 percent of
the recommended daily limit. Table salt is sodium chloride,
but other chemicals containing sodium, such as monosodium
glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium
benzoate are used in foods as flavorings or preservatives.
“People will have to be
motivated for behavioral change, providers will have to take
greater responsibility for educating and monitoring patients
and organizations will need to develop and provide better
and more effective tools and interventions,” Ajani said.