High dietary sodium intake among young children in Vancouver, British Columbia

To determine the intake distribution and food sources of sodium among young children.

Dietary intake was determined for 190 children, 16 months to 6 years of age, using a food frequency questionnaire completed by interviewing a parent. Dietary intake of all nutrients, including dietary sodium, was analyzed. The major food sources of sodium were assessed by grouping foods into categories based on Canada's Food Guide, with subsequent subdivision into food type categories.

Dietary sodium intakes were skewed, with a median intake of 2021 mg/d and 5th-95th percentile range of 888-3975 mg/d. The sodium intake of 91.6% of children was above the recommended 1000 or 1200 mg/d for children 1-3 or 3-6 years, respectively, and 85% and 54% had intakes above the tolerable upper limits of 1500 and 1900 mg/d, respectively. The 5 food sources providing the highest amount of sodium were soups, processed/fast foods, dairy products, breads, and processed meats.

Children are vulnerable to high sodium intake as a result of their food patterns and the high sodium content of these foods. This report demonstrates that Canadian children have high sodium intakes. Knowledge of feeding practices involving high-sodium foods can assist parents and caregivers in reducing the high sodium intake of young children.