Food intake in salt by the senegalese population: consumption scenarii.

Abstract

Introduction. In Senegal, 29.8% of adults are known to have hypertension. Among all the dietary factors causing this disease, salt and its impact on blood pressure are by far the best documented. Objective. The objective of this study was to estimate the dietary salt intake of Senegalese populations on the basis of scenarios consumption. Material and methods. This was an estimate of the amount of salt that could be consumed by a resident of Dakar and Mékhé (Thiès). For that, the analytical data relating to the salt content of the most commonly consumed millet and rice dishes were correlated with those relating to the available food consumption habits. Results. The consumption scenarios revealed that Dakar as well as Thiès resident consumed between 8.81 and 32.34g of salt by day, i.e. 176.2 to 646.8% of the guide value of 5g of salt per day recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Conclusion. Overconsumption of salt is noted in Senegalese, with sodium intakes higher than the guide value recommended by the WHO.