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European Journal of Nutrition
Published in: European Journal of Nutrition 7/2015

01-10-2015 | Original Contribution

Current daily salt intake in Germany: biomarker-based analysis of the representative DEGS study

Authors: S. A. Johner, M. Thamm, R. Schmitz, T. Remer

Published in: European Journal of Nutrition | Issue 7/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

A high dietary salt intake is a serious risk factor for the development of hypertension. Daily salt intake in most of the European countries substantially exceeds the current recommendations of salt intake. For Germany, so far, no valid biomarker-based data on current daily salt intake are available.

Methods

Data basis for this biomarker-based estimation of salt intake in the German population was the representative DEGS Study (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults) conducted 2008–2011 in 18–79 old adults living in Germany. Daily salt intake was estimated from 6,962 sodium and creatinine measurements in spot urine samples.

Results

Median estimated daily salt intake of the 18–79 olds was 10.0 g in men and 8.4 g in women. More than 75 % of men and about 70 % of women exceeded the current recommendation of a maximum salt intake of 6 g/day. Fifty percentage of men and more than 35 % of the women had a daily salt intake >10 g.

Conclusion

Daily salt intake of the German population considerably exceeds the current recommendation to eat no more than 6 g salt per day. A general reduction of salt content in processed foods—which are currently the main source of salt intake—offers a promising and cost-effective potential for the improvement of all salt intake-dependent health outcomes in the population.
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Metadata
Title
Current daily salt intake in Germany: biomarker-based analysis of the representative DEGS study
Authors
S. A. Johner
M. Thamm
R. Schmitz
T. Remer
Publication date
01-10-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nutrition / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 1436-6207
Electronic ISSN: 1436-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0787-8

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