Epidemiology: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

The relationship between obesity/overweight, salt intake and Blood Pressure (BP) has been observed recently among children in developed countries. Due to current epidemiological transition, it became necessary to investigate if this pattern exists in a developing country. Thus the aim to assess the association between salt intake and BP by weight status among school children in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 327 school children aged 8-17 years were recruited. Anthropometric measures, BP and spot urine samples were obtained. Urine samples were analysed by flame photometric method. Mean age was 13.58�?±1.93 years. Participants consumed an average of 2713mg/day of Sodium, 67% had intakes above WHO recommended â�?¤2300mg/day. 17.2 % were Overweight/Obese. The prevalence of pre-HBP and HBP were 28.4% and 9.5% respectively, and dietary pattern (fast food and soft drink consumption) was associated with high sodium intake and BP. Mean adjusted SBP increased progressively with sodium intake quartile from 104.2mmHg to 114.7mmHg overall (P<0.001) and from 108.1mmHg to 121.0mmHg among those overweight/obese (P=0.003). Adjusted odds ratio comparing risk for pre-HBP/HBP among participants in the highest versus lowest sodium intake quartile were 2.1 (95% CI: 0.86-5.29) overall and 2.9 (95% CI: 1.48-8.03) among those overweight/ obese. Sodium intake and weight status had synergistic effects on Pre-HBP/HBP risk (RERI=0.24). The findings corroborates the association between high salt intake and hypertension and this may be stronger among those overweight/obese. Therefore a need to initiate salt reduction programme and promote school based interventions to improve healthier dietary choices and increased levels of physical activity among children.

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