Abstract Body: Introduction: The WHO recommends a 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of salt/sodium within 2025 (baseline 2010) and an adequate potassium intake. To these ends, the Italian Ministry of Health (MoH) has strengthened prevention/health promotion. To update the assessment of the habitual salt and potassium intake in the Italian general adult population, national health examination surveys (HESs) were implemented, technicallly and financially supported by the Ministry of Health - National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and conducted within the CUORE Project.
Hypothesis: This analysis aims to assess if Italy can meet the WHO target on salt intake and to monitor the levels of potassium intake in the general adult population.
Methods: In 2023 a new HES started including salt and potassium intake assessment by the use of 24h urine collection. Up to now, data from random samples of residents in 12 Regions (of 20 regions) distributed in North, Centre and South of Italy and aged 35-74 years are available (1334 men, 1317 women). Urinary excretion is assayed by a central lab. Persons with urinary volume < 500 ml and/or a urinary creatinine content referred to body weight outside the range of population mean ± 2 standard deviations are excluded.
Results: Out of 1138 men and 1140 women, mean level of salt per day was 9,3 g (95% CI: 9,1-9.5 g) and 7,2 g (7,0-7,3 g) respectively, and mean level of potassium per day was 2,9 g (2,9-3,0 g) and 2,5 g (2,4-2,5 g) respectively. A salt intake level lower than the WHO recommended target of 5g/day was detected in 9,5 % (6,2 -12,8 %) of men and 23,6 % (18,8 -28,3 %) of women and a potassium intake level higher than the WHO recommended target of 3510 mg/day was detected in 23,8 % (19,0 -28,6 %) of men and 10,6 % (7,2 -14,0 %) of women.
Conclusions: These preliminary data showed that in Italian adults the average salt intake is still higher and the average potassium intake is still lower than recommended. Compared to 2008, the habitual salt intake decreased of about 12% in 2018 and remained stable in 2023; the habitual potassium intake remained stable in 2008, 2018 and 2023.These results justify and encourage the ongoing preventive initiatives of MoH, facilitating the meeting of WHO targets.