Effectiveness of attention to reduce salt in diet, as evidenced by reduced urinary excretion of salt

The attitude of people toward salty food [including their attention to reduce salt (NaCI) intake] was investigated by a questionnaire method in 524 adult subjects (131 men, and 393 women including 313 women in the 30 to 60 years age range) in a small farming village in northeastern Japan. Excretion of NaCI in urine was measured in 24‐hr samples which were collected at the same time. The amount of NaCI excreted in urine varied significantly by age in men with a peak in their 40s and 50s, whereas essentially no age‐dependent changes in the amount were observed in the 30–60 year old women. Further analysis among the 30–69 year‐old women showed that those who paid attention to reduce NaCI intake excreted significantly less NaCI (10.6 g/day as a mean) than those who did not pay attention (11.9 g/day). The meaning of this observation is discussed.

Key words:

• Food habits
• hypertension
• Japan
• rural area
• salt excretion in urine
• salt intake
• sodium chloride
• stroke