The data collected through the Minisal-GIRCSI project were used to study the relationship between geographical variation in sodium and potassium intake and socio-economic variations, in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre at the University of Warwick. Socio-economic status was evaluated through 2 indicators: educational qualification (degree, high school, middle school, primary school or equivalent) and level of employment (managers, civil servants and office workers, workers with low managerial functions, skilled workers, workers with low qualifications, housewives). The analysis showed that there is a linear association between employment and salt consumption. Skilled and low-skilled workers have a higher salt consumption, 5.6% and 6.6% more, respectively, when compared to the category of civil servants and office workers. A similar relationship has been found between educational level and salt consumption: people with primary and secondary school qualifications have 7.7% and 3.9% more sodium in their urine, respectively, when compared to graduates. The result is that disadvantaged social classes have significantly higher salt consumption. The socio-economic gradient is independent from possible confounding factors, such as age, gender, body mass index, hypertension and other behavioural aspects, and explains very well the geographical variability of salt consumption.

 

As far as potassium is concerned, no consistent association between employment or educational level and potassium intake has been observed. However, people with primary and secondary school qualifications have significantly lower potassium intake than graduates. The differences in educational level only partially explain the geographical variation observed for potassium intake.

 

The study was published in the British Medical Journal. 

 

Read more

• The press release of the Ministry of Health “La riduzione del consumo di sale: un obiettivo possibile” 12 marzo 2015 (Italian language)
• The pages related to salt and sodium in the Progetto Cuore website

Bibliography

• Cappuccio FP, Ji C, Donfrancesco C, Palmieri L, ippolito R, Vannuzzo D, Giampaoli S, Strazullo P. Geographic and socioeconomic variation of sodium and potassium intake in Italy: results from the Minisal-Gircsi programme. BMJ Open 2015;5:e007467.
• Giampaoli S, Strazzullo Pasquale, Galeone D, Donfrancesco C, Russo O, Palmieri L, Ippolito R, Vanuzzo D. Il consumo di sodio e potassio nell’alimentazione della popolazione adulta italiana. Rivista Società Italiana di Medicina Generale (Simg) 2014;2:27-28.
• Donfrancesco C, Ippolito R, Lo Noce C, Palmieri L, Iacone R, Russo O, Vanuzzo D, Galletti F, Galeone D, Giampaoli S, Strazzullo P. Excess dietary sodium and inadequate potassium intake in Italy: results of the MINISAL study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2013;23:850-6.