Salt/Sodium Intake Estimation in Children and Adolescents of Costa Rica ()
ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to estimate sodium intake and to identify
the main dietary sources of this nutrient in young people. Cross-sectional
study performed in 2685 students from 64 schools and high-schools of Costa
Rica. A food frequency survey was applied to study the food and beverage intake
habits of the participants. The average daily sodium intake for children and
adolescents 7 to 18 years of age was 3214 mg. Around 97% of the students had sodium
intakes > 2300 mg per day with significant differences by age subgroup, sex
and nutritional status due to excess body weight (p < 0.001). The average
sodium density of the diet was 1698 mg sodium/1000kcal, and the average addition
of salt to the food was 445 mg of sodium (1.1 grams of salt). Including the
amount added to the served food, the average sodium intake for children and
adolescents from 7 to 18 years of age increased to 3434 mg and the overall
average sodium density increased to 1821 mg of sodium/1000kcal, maintaining
significant differences by age subgroups (p < 0.001). These results justify
carrying out social marketing campaigns that include educational processes with
sense and meaning for children, adolescents and families, in such a way that
these groups of the population become motivated to modify gradually their
eating habits, such as reducing the use of sauces, seasonings and salt in food
preparation and at the table. If the habit of adding salt to the served food is
gradually reduced or avoided, the children and adolescents in Costa Rica could
decrease the intake of salt per day from 1 to 2 grams. This decrease could be
even more effective if youngsters additionally would remove the intake of
sauces, contributing in this way to achieve the maximum salt intake recommendation
(5 g per day).
Share and Cite:
Núñez-Rivas, H. , Holst-Schumacher, I. , Blanco-Metzler, A. , de los Angeles Montero-Campos, M. , Campos-Saborío, N. and Benavides-Aguilar, K. (2020) Salt/Sodium Intake Estimation in Children and Adolescents of Costa Rica.
Food and Nutrition Sciences,
11, 919-941. doi:
10.4236/fns.2020.1110065.