Unbalanced intakes of sodium and potassium among Tunisian adults: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

The prevention and management of hypertension are untimely associated with a lowering of sodium intake. The present study aimed to evaluate the sodium and potassium intake levels of Tunisian population through measurement of 24‐hr urinary sodium excretions. A randomly, multistage, cross‐sectional study was conducted in an urban region (Bizerte) in Tunisia during 2015. The target population involved adults aged from 25 to 64 years. Sodium, potassium, and creatinine concentrations were determined in each urine sample using indirect potentiometric method. From the 420 selected participants, only 194 gave urine samples complying completeness criteria. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the variables related to sodium and potassium excretion. The daily mean excretion of sodium and potassium was 138.3 ± 46.5 mmol/d (corresponding to 8.1 ± 2.7 g/d of salt intake) and 61.0 ± 22.7 mmol/d, respectively. More than 87.1% of the participants (89.8% for men vs. 84.9% for women; p = .31) exceeded the WHO recommendation of 5 g/d. The upper limit of 10 g salt intake per day was still exceeded by 26.3%. After adjusted analysis, sex (for women, coef = −1.6; (95% CI: −2.4, −0.7)), level of instruction (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% IC: 0.4–2.0)), and body mass index (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% CI: 0.1, 2.0)) were associated with the sodium excretion. High sodium intake and inadequate potassium intake were found among participants. This consumption profile complies with the diet westernization context occurring in Tunisia. The initiated strategy focused on the downward of sodium in bread (the main source of salt intake) seems to be promising.

Colorectal Cancer Archaeome: A Metagenomic Exploration, Tunisia

“…While Halobacteria are extremely halophilic archaea that can adapt to a wide range of salt concentrations, increased salt intake could explain their detection in the human gut. In Tunisia, a recent study carried out on 194 Tunisian adults showed that their exposure to high doses of salt consumption was equal to 8.1 ± 2.7 g/d [ 39 ]; the quantity recommended by the WHO does not exceed 5 g/d [ 40 ]. We also highlighted an enrichment of the Thermococcales order, especially the Thermococcus genus in healthy mucosa, compared to tumoral tissues, whereas the Natrialba genus, which is a haloarchaea, was associated with tumoral tissues.…”

Estimated 24-Hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion in adults in the Northwest Region of Morocco, 2017

“…Our results were also comparable to those reported in the EMRO region. The highest estimates were observed in adults from Iran (4100 mg/day) [ 23 ] and Spain (3900 mg/day) [ 24 ], while the lowest values were reported in adults from Tunisia [ 25 ] and Italy (3200 mg/day) [ 26 ], Morocco (2800 mg/day) [ 22 ] and the United Arab Emirates (2400 mg/day) [ 27 ]. Moreover, less than one third (30.7%) of adults in our study consumed no more than 2000 mg/day of Na and only a few (8.4%) had an adequate K intake of 3510 mg/day.…”

School and community drivers of child diets in two Arab cities: The SCALE protocol and innovative tools to assess children’s food environments

“…These two urban agglomerations provide examples of the nutritional shift occurring in many Arab countries. Lebanon and Tunisia are both middle-income countries that have experienced rapid rates of urbanization and economic development [ 1 , 57 ] paralleled by a rapidly proceeding nutrition transition [ 3 , 58 ] with overweight prevalence in children having long surpassed that of stunting [ 59 ]. This transition has typically been most rapid in urban contexts, where the consumption of starchy carbohydrates, food away from home, and processed foods including sugary snacks among children are on the rise [ 3 , 60 ].…”