Dietary sodium intake in a sample of adult male population in southern Italy: results of the Olivetti heart study

Background/Objectives: To assess dietary habitual sodium intake and the association between daily sodium intake and anthropometric indices, food habits and hypertension in the sample of adult male population participating in the Olivetti Heart Study. Subjects/Methods: The study population was composed of 940 men participating in the 2002-2004 follow-up examination of the Olivetti Heart Study. Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, biochemical parameters and sodium excretion in a 24-h urine collection were measured. The frequency of consumption of selected foods was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) capturing the previous year data. In a subgroup of the study population (n = 138), the fractional excretion of sodium was estimated by endogenous lithium clearance. Results: Dietary sodium intake estimated by 24 h urinary excretion was 203 +/- 70 mmol/day. Sodium excretion was significantly lower in treated hypertensive patients and higher in overweight/obese participants when compared with normotensive and normal-weight individuals, respectively. In addition, the inverse correlation detected in normal-weight individuals (r = -0.321; P