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High sodium intake attributed to restaurants, regularly eaten foods
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In a recent CDC MMWR, researchers observed that nearly 44% of sodium intake for those older than 2 years of age is attributed to 10 specific foods, including pizza, sandwiches and milk, with those between 2 and 19 years eating the most sodium-dense food at restaurants with wait staff.
“Monitoring population sodium intake and sources of sodium can inform measures to reduce sodium content of the food supply,” Zerleen S. Quader, MPH, from the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC, and colleagues wrote. “Since publication of previous reports on sodium intake in the U.S. population, initiatives including CDC’s Sodium Reduction in Communities Program, New York City’s National Sodium Reduction Initiative, and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act are aimed at reducing the sodium content of foods in specific venues and communities, including stores, restaurants and school cafeterias.”
To analyze the breakdown of top sodium contributors in the diets of Americans aged 2 years or older, Quader and colleagues used data from What We Eat in America collected from 2013 to 2014. Additionally, information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dietary intake portion was used.
Researchers used all reported beverages and foods within selected food categories in their ranking of the top sources of sodium intake, which were separated into overall categories and by demographic subgroups. Included in the subgroups were age, ethnicity and race and location of food purchases.
The foods consumed containing the most sodium were most often bought in stores (60.8%); however, the total population — including children between 2 and 19 — consumed the most sodium-dense foods in sit-down restaurants.
The average sodium intake for Americans aged 2 years and older was 3,409 mg daily, with a density of 1,683 mg/1,000 kcal. Those between the ages of 20 and 50 had the highest overall sodium intake, with men consuming significantly more sodium than women. Regarding race and ethnicity, non-Hispanic Asians consumed a low-calorie, but more sodium-dense, diet when compared to non-Hispanic whites.
The top 10 contributors of sodium in the American diet included, in order: bread, pizza, sandwiches, cold cuts and cured meats, soups, burritos and tacos, all savory snacks, whole pieces of chicken, cheese, and eggs and omelets. An exception to this list was noted when considering children between the ages of 2 and 5, where milk was fourth in the ranking.
“Sodium intake remains high and comes from a variety of food types and places,” Quader and colleagues wrote. “Monitoring the differences in types and sources of intake can help focus sodium reduction measures to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.” — by Katherine Bortz
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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