AsianScientist (May 20, 2013) – Researchers are carrying out a large-scale study of the salt intake of Indian adults towards the development of a national salt reduction strategy.
Scientists from the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the University of Birmingham, Imperial College London, and the University of Sydney are carrying out an assessment of dietary salt intake among 1,400 adults over 24 years in urban Delhi and rural Haryana.
India has a diverse dietary culture where salt and spices are used extensively but up-to-date figures on population salt consumption are very limited. Public health studies worldwide have found excess salt intake to be associated with increased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Projections indicate that from 2000 to 2025 the number of Indians suffering with hypertension will almost double from 118 million to 213 million.
The existing available data indicates that population salt intake is very high across different regions of India with the average daily intake ranging between 9 and 12 grams daily, an extremely high figure compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended intake level of 5 grams daily. The intake is reported to be higher in urban settings compared to rural settings.
The cross-sectional survey will determine the mean daily salt consumption and determine the main sources of salt in diets through the collection of 24-hour urinary sodium excretion samples among a representative sample. It will also assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors with regard to salt consumption and its impact on health through a questionnaire.
Dr. Sailesh Mohan, the study’s Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at PHFI, said: “Population-based strategies are necessary given the high prevalence and growing burden of hypertension and its inadequate management in India. Therefore, it’s imperative to determine current consumption levels so that appropriate evidence-based preventative public health action can be initiated.”
The results of the study are due in 2014.
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Source: University of Birmingham; Photo: stlbites.com/Flickr/CC.
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