Comparison of Salt Intake in Children to that of their Parents

High salt intake has been related to increased blood pressure and cardiovascular events. Few studies evaluated daily salt consumption in children.

To compare urinary sodium (UNa) excretion in children to that of their parents using the gold standard of 24-h collections.

We prospectively collected 633 urine samples, mean UNa = 133 ± 37 mmol/day (7.7 ± 2.1 g of salt) from 326 children aged 10-15 years and 94 urine samples, mean UNa = 136 ± 45 mmol/day (8.0 ± 2.6 g of salt), from 78 parents. Comparisons between sodium intake were made by analysis of variance.

We paired 24-h urine samples of 65 children, UNa = 134 ± 36 mmol/day, (7.9 ± 2.3 g of salt) to 75 corresponding parents, UNa = 136 ± 45 mmol/day (8.0 ± 2.6 g of salt). Within parents, 50 were mothers, UNa = 138 ± 49 mmol/day (8.1 ± 2.9 g of salt) and 25 were fathers, UNa = 116 ± 41 mmol/day (6.8 ± 2.4 g of salt). Sodium excretion did not differ between boys vs. girls and mothers vs. fathers. Salt intake of children was not different from that of mothers (n = 50; 7.9 ± 2.3 vs. 8.1 ± 2. 8 g/24 h, p = 0.515) but higher than that of fathers (n = 25; 8.0 ± 2.3 vs. 6.8 ± 2.4 g/24 h, p < 0.05). Only 9.2% of children and 30.8% of the parents had a salt intake below 5 g/24 h. Around 60% of the children had a salt intake higher than their parents. Parental educational level was not associated with differences in salt consumption in children and parents. Overall, parents and children UNa excretion showed a moderate positive and significant correlation (r = 0.45, p = 0.001).

In 91% of children aged 10-15 years, daily salt intake was higher than recommended. Also, children's salt consumption was closer to that of their mothers than that of their fathers, -possibly because of closeness in dietary habits with their mothers.