[Relation between salt intake and systolic pressure in children and adolescents]

This study was undertaken to demonstrate a possible intra-population salt intake/blood pressure relationship, using dietary assessment in 312 children (man age: 11 years). Salt intake was assessed through questionnaires and interviews by a dietician and was categorized into five salt scores. A salt intake index was established by a correspondence analysis. A low but significant correlation was found between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and salt score (0,187 in boys and 0,240 in girls) even after controlling for weight. Twice as many children with a high salt intake has raised SBP then had children with a normal or low salt intake. Though it is weak the relationship between SBP and salt intake is corroborated. However, there is a great interindividual variation and it seems premature to advocate such massive public health recommendations as as reducing the sodium content of food.