Intake and food sources of sodium in the population residing in urban areas of Ecuador: results from ELANS study

ABSTRACT

Background

In 2021, WHO notes that globally, 32% of annual deaths worldwide are due to cardiovascular causes, which have been attributed to excessive sodium intake, and therefore recommends a reduction in salt intake to less than 5 g/day. Ecuador does not have data on sodium consumption in the population. Hence, this study sought to determine the association between sodium consumption and sociodemographic variables in subjects living in urban areas of Ecuador.

Objectives

Determine the main dietary sources of sodium in subjects living in urban areas of the Coast and Highlands of Ecuador, and the association between sodium intake and sociodemographic variables such as: sex, region, marital status, socio-economic and educational level of this population.

Methods

Sodium intake was studied in 800 subjects of both sexes aged 15 to 65 years living in urban areas in Ecuador, originating from the Latin American Nutrition and Health Study (ELANS) between 2014 and 2015. Data were obtained through two 24-hour recalls, and were accessed according to sex, region, age, marital status, socio-economic and educational levels.

Results

The mean sodium intake was 4900 mg/day (SD ± 1188.32 mg/day), and both sexes exceeded the recommendations. Adjusting for energy intake, sodium consumption is higher in participants aged 50–65 years, from low socio-economic status and with basic education level. A positive relationship was found between sodium and energy intake. Around 48% of the sodium sources included the spices, condiments and herbs group. Within this group, salt itself constitutes 99% of sodium sources.

Conclusions

The Ecuadorian population consumes more than double the sodium recommendations, which vary according to gender and age. The first source of sodium is salt itself, which is part of spices and condiments food group. This data is important to formulate public health policies and interventions in Ecuador, especially in the population at risk.

KEYWORDS:

• Sodium intake
• sodium food sources
• sociodemographic characteristics
• urban population
• ELANS

Responsible Editor

Maria Nilsson

Responsible Editor

Maria Nilsson

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff and participants from each participating sites who contributed substantially to ELANS.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, MAVC., MCYG., Formal analysis, GG., Resources, MAVC, MCYG. Data curation MCYG, MAVC, Investigation MAVC, MCYG, GG, Writing-review, and editing: MVC, MCYG, MBO, all authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical approval was provided by the Western Institutional Review Board (#20140605), and by the ethical review boards of the participating institutions. ELANS is registered at Clinical Trials #NCT02226627. Written informed consent/assent was obtained from all individuals before commencement of the study.

Paper context

Dietary sodium plays a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases and premature mortality worldwide. This study determines the association between sodium consumption and sociodemographic variables in urban areas of Ecuador. The Ecuadorian population consumes almost two times the recommended sodium. Salt added to meals is the main source of sodium in the diet. Thus, it is necessary to motivate the reduction of salt intake and promote healthy eating and lifestyles.

Additional information

Funding

Fieldwork and data analysis compromised in ELANS protocol was supported by a scientific grant from the Coca Cola Company, and by grant and/or support from Instituto Pensi/Hospital Infantil Sabara, International Life Science Institute of Argentina, Universidad de Costa Rica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Central de Venezuela (CENDES-UCV)/Fundación Bengoa, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and Instituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú. The funding sponsors had no role in study design; the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.