[Reducing dietary salt intake: an important public health strategy in Switzerland]

Rev Med Suisse. 2010 Mar 10;6(239):494, 496-8.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Current dietary salt (sodium chloride) intake largely exceeds physiological needs (about 1.5 g salt per day, or 550 mg sodium per day) in most countries (> 8 g salt per day). The main sources of dietar salt intake are breads, cheeses, products derived from meat and ready-to-eat meals. On average, a high-salt diet is associated with higher blood pressure levels. In Switzerland, one out of three adults suffers from arterial hypertension. Half of cerebrovascular events and ischaemic cardiac events are attributable to elevated blood pressure. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health is currently running a strategy aiming at reducing dietary salt intake in the Swiss population to less than 5 g per day on the long run (Salz Strategie 2008-2012).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Food
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Public Health*
  • Social Medicine
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary / administration & dosage*
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary / adverse effects
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Switzerland / epidemiology

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary