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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Association between Urinary Sodium Excretion and Body Fat in School-Aged Children: Insights from the ARIA Study
Ana Patrícia Soares1, Mónica Rodrigues2,3, Patrícia Padrão1,2,3
1Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Porto, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
Insights
High sodium intake in children is linked to increased body fat percentage (%BF), but not Body Mass Index (BMI). This study highlights the importance of monitoring sodium consumption in pediatric populations to manage body composition effectively.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Obesity Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern globally.
- Increased sodium intake is a potential contributing factor to obesity.
- Limited evidence exists on the direct link between sodium intake and body composition in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Mass Percentage (%BF) in children.
- To explore the relationship between dietary sodium and body composition in a pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 303 children aged 7-12 years in Porto, Portugal.
- Assessment of Body Fat Mass Percentage (%BF) and Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Estimation of 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion and Total Energy Intake (TEI).
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between higher urinary sodium excretion and higher %BF in children.
- No significant association was observed between urinary sodium excretion and BMI.
- The association between sodium intake and %BF remained significant after adjusting for confounders like TEI and potassium intake.
Conclusions:
- Higher sodium intake in children is associated with increased body fat percentage (%BF).
- Urinary sodium excretion may be a more sensitive indicator of body fat accumulation than BMI in children.
- Findings suggest a need for strategies to reduce sodium intake in children to improve body composition.
Abstract:
Childhood obesity has been associated with increased sodium intake. Nonetheless, evidence linking sodium intake to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Mass Percentage (%BF) remains limited, especially in the pediatric age group. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether there is an association between 24 h urinary sodium excretion with BMI and %BF in a sample group of children from the ARIA study. This cross-sectional analysis included 303 children aged 7 to 12 from across 20 public schools in Porto, Portugal. Weight and %BF were assessed using the Tanita™ BC-418 Segmental Body Analyzer. Children's Total Energy Intake (TEI) was estimated through a single 24 h Recall Questionnaire, and urinary sodium and potassium excretion was estimated by a 24 h urine collection. The association of %BF and BMI with 24 h sodium excretion was estimated by a binary logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, physical activity, total energy intake, parental education, and 24 h urinary excreted potassium. There was a significant positive association between higher levels of urinary sodium excretion and higher %BF values, even after adjusting for confounders. However, the same was not observed for BMI. Our findings suggest that higher sodium intake is associated with higher values of %BF among children, regardless of TEI and potassium intake.
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