Twelve-year trends and correlates of dietary salt intakes for the general adult population of Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract

Background/objectives: Investigate dietary salt intake trends by gender, and their associations with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Geneva, Switzerland.

Subjects/methods: Continuous surveillance of the Geneva general adult (35-74 years) population for 12 years (1993-2004) using a validated, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in random, cross-sectional, representative samples (6688 men, 6647 women). Dietary salt intake assessment by FFQ excluded discretionary salt, but was calibrated on total salt intake using an independent validation substudy of 100 volunteers who additionally provided 24-h urine collections.

Results: Quartiles (mean) of calibrated dietary salt intake (g per day) were 9.9, 10.5, 11.2 (10.6) in men, and 7.0, 7.8, 8.9 (8.1) in women and were above current recommendations. Quartiles (mean) of salt density (g MJ(-1)) were 0.99, 1.16, 1.39 (1.23) in men, and 0.98, 1.12, 1.30 (1.17) in women. Both measures were stable during the 12-year surveillance period, regardless of hypertension treatment. Salt-density differences between cardiovascular disease risk factor subgroups were moderate. Salt density increased with age and body mass index. The main dietary non-discretionary salt food sources (men/women: 47/48%) were breads (17/17%), cheeses (11/10%), meat and meat products (8/7%), soups (6/9%) and ready-to-eat foods (5/5%).

Conclusions: Salt intakes from all sources for the Geneva, and perhaps the Swiss adult population are above current recommendations. The quantitative and qualitative data provided in this paper could be used to develop and implement strategies for salt-intake reduction in Switzerland.