Kids Consume Too Much Salt (En inglés)

Kids Consume Too Much Salt (En inglés)

High sodium intake is associated with elevated risk for high blood pressure, especially in obese and overweight children.
High dietary sodium and obesity are considered risk factors for hypertension in children and adults. Researchers examined the association between usual dietary sodium intake and high blood pressure (BP) in 6235 children (age range, 8–18 years) enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2008.

Sodium intake was determined by dietary recall.

Sodium intake averaged 3387 mg per day and increased with age. Sodium intake was higher in boys, normal-weight children, and non-Hispanic white children. Fifteen percent of the cohort had pre–high BP or high BP, and 37% were overweight or obese. Systolic BP, but not diastolic BP, increased by approximately 1 mm Hg per 1000 mg of sodium intake per day.

The increase in BP associated with sodium intake was higher in obese and overweight children than in normal-weight children (1.5 mm Hg per 1000 mg/day vs. 0.2 mm Hg per 1000 mg/day), even after adjusting for physical activity.

The adjusted risk for pre–high BP or high BP in obese and overweight children in the highest quartile of sodium intake was significantly higher than the risk in children in the lowest quartile of sodium intake (adjusted odds ratio, 3.5).

High dietary sodium intake increases the risk for pre–high BP and high BP, especially in overweight and obese children. The average intake in the study is as high as the average intake for adults and higher than the dietary guidelines (=2300 mg/day) for children. Counseling on lifestyle changes to reduce sodium intake is a priority in children as well as adults.

(Fuente: Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine October 17, 2012) [publicada el 16 de noviembre de 2012]