First estimates of country-specific global salt intake identified

Highest intakes are found in regions lying along the old Silk Road - from East Asia, through Central Asia to Eastern Europe and the Middle East - Dr John Powles The global average salt intake in 2010 was around 10 grams per person per day, corresponding to 4 grams per day of sodium, according to a study published today in the BMJ Open. The study also reveals major regional variations around this global average. In 181 of 187 countries (corresponding to 99.2% of the world adult population) studied by researchers led by the University of Cambridge and Harvard School of Public Health, national intakes exceeded the World Health Organization recommended intake of 2 grams per day of sodium (about 5 grams per day of salt). In 119 countries (88.3% of the world's adult population), the national intake exceeded this recommended amount by more than 1 gram per day of sodium. "Nearly all populations across the world are consuming far more sodium than is healthy," said Dr Dariush Mozaffarian, from the Harvard School of Public Health. 'Clearly, strong government policies are needed, together with industry cooperation and collaboration, to substantially reduce sodium.' The study also reveals major regional variations around this global average, as Dr John Powles, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Public Health and Primary Care explained: "Highest intakes are found in regions lying along the old Silk Road - from East Asia, through Central Asia to Eastern Europe and the Middle East." Because most of these populations have high rates of cardiovascular disease they will gain most from programmes to reduce salt consumption - and have the most scope for doing so.