Relationship of sodium intake with obesity among Iranian children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests a relationship between sodium (Na) intake and obesity risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between ۲۴-hour (۲۴-h) urinary Na excretion and adiposity measures in a sample of Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed among ۳۷۴ healthy individuals aged ۱۱-۱۸ years old. Random cluster sampling method was used to select the participants from ۴ districts in Isfahan, Iran. Na excretion was estimated using a ۲۴-h urinary sample. Creatinine (Cr) level was used to confirm the completeness of samples. Anthropometric measures including weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were obtained based on standard protocols. RESULTS: The odds ratio (OR) for overweight/obesity in subjects with the highest tertile of Na excretion compared with the lowest tertile was ۸.۰۱ [۹۵% confidence interval (CI) ۴.۲۰-۱۵.۳] in crude model and ۸.۳۳ (۹۵% CI ۴.۱۴-۱۶.۸) after adjusting for potential confounders. The association was independent of intake of energy and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). The OR for abdominal obesity in the highest tertile of Na excretion compared with the lowest tertile was ۹.۱۲ (۹۵% CI ۴.۷۸- ۱۷.۴) in crude model and ۹.۷۵ (۹۵% CI ۴.۸۸-۱۹.۵) after controlling for potential confounders. The association was independent of energy intake or SSBs consumption. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a positive association between Na excretion and obesity among children and adolescents. Further investigation through longitudinal studies using a more representative sample of children and adolescents is suggested to determine whether this is a causal relationship. 

Keywords:

Sodium , Obesity , Children , Adolescents , Iran