Trend of salt intake measured by 24-hour urine collection samples among Iranian adults population between 1998 and 2013: The Isfahan Salt Study

Abstract Background and aim Few population-based studies conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean region assessed salt intake by the measurement of 24-hour sodium urine excretion (24-hUNa). The current study aimed to assess the trend of mean salt intake in Iranian adults between 1998 and 2013. Methods These cross-sectional studies were performed on 564, 157, 509 and 837 randomly selected healthy adults aged >18 years from Isfahan city, Iran, in 1998, 2001, 2007 and 2013, respectively. BP was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer according to a standard protocol. Single 24-h urine was collected to assess 24-hUNa as a surrogate of salt intake, and 24-h urinary K (24-hUK). Results The estimated trend of salt intake was 9.5, 9.7, 9.6 and 10.2 g/day in total population (P Conclusions This population-based study indicated that mean salt intake was about two times of recommendation in Isfahan city, Iran, and suggest that it would be essential to implement a salt reduction strategy program in Iranian population. Longitudinal national studies with larger samples examining the trend of salt intake are warranted.