WHO Releases New Sodium Guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) released new guidelines for sodium intake Friday Jan. 31, 2013. The new guidelines suggest that adults should consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium, or 5 grams of salt, and at least 3,510 mg of potassium per day. A person with elevated sodium levels and low potassium levels increases their risk of heart attack and stroke.

A recent study showed that high blood pressure in children may actually be lower now that what was previously recorded.  Children were measured between the ages of 3 to 17 between July 2007 and December 2009. The measurement group included a racially diverse group with children representing White, Hispanic, Asian/ Pacific Islander, Black, and other. The results showed 81.9% were within normal limits, 12.7% had prehypertension, and only 5.4% had hypertension. The study concluded that the prevalence of hypertension may be much lower than previously reported.[1] This was good news although more studies will need to confirm these results.

CDC statistics for adults with hypertension shows good news and bad news. The bad news is that between 1988 and 2010 hypertension increased by just fewer than 5% from 25.5% to 30%. It is estimated that U.S. adults aged 18 years and older, that the prevalence of hypertension was 30.4%, which corresponds to approximately 66.9 million individuals. The good news is that uncontrolled hypertension had been reduced from 77.2% to 55.7% in 2010.[2] This number translates into approximately 35.8 million adults who did not have their condition under control. Patients who were unaware of their hypertension were estimated to be at 39.4%; 15.8% who were aware of their hypertension, but were untreated; and 44.8% who were aware of their hypertension and had uncontrolled hypertension despite receiving treatment. The majority of patients with uncontrolled hypertension reported that they had access to care, with 87.7% having received medical care in the year prior, 89.4% reporting a usual source of care and 85.2% having health insurance. The American Society of Hypertension reported the following; “High blood pressure was listed as a primary or contributing cause of death for 326,000 Americans in 2006 and in 2010 it will cost the United States $76.6 billion in health care services, medications, and missed days of work.” Not treating hypertension means that adults are at risk for death, heart attack, or stroke which can result in a poor quality of life or end of life.[3]

Sodium is found in milk and cream (approximately 50 mg of sodium per 100 g) and eggs (approximately 80 mg/100 g).  Processed foods usually contain some of the highest amounts of sodium such as bread (approximately 250 mg/100 g), processed meats like bacon (approximately 1,500 mg/100 g), snack foods such as pretzels, cheese puffs and popcorn (approximately 1,500 mg/100 g), as well as in condiments such as soy sauce (approximately 7,000 mg/100 g), and bouillon or stock cubes (approximately 20,000 mg/100 g).

Potassium can easily be added to your diet by eating beans and peas (approximately 1,300 mg of potassium per 100 g), nuts (approximately 600 mg/100 g), vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and parsley (approximately 550 mg/100 g) and fruits such as bananas, papayas and dates (approximately 300 mg/100 g). Processing foods reduces the amount of potassium this is why it is best to purchase your food fresh when possible.

Currently people are not eating enough potassium and are getting too much sodium in their diets. “Elevated blood pressure is a major risk for heart disease and stroke – the number one cause of death and disability globally,” says Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development. “These guidelines also make recommendations for children over the age of 2. This is critical because children with elevated blood pressure often become adults with elevated blood pressure.”[4]

Public health measures need to be taken to reduce sodium and increase potassium consumption. This will help to reduce the population’s risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Product labeling, consumer education, updating national dietary guidelines, and negotiating with food manufacturers to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods must all be done to help this to occur. Anything we can do to reduce hypertension and improve quality of life is a positive move for healthcare.