(P21-001-25) Associations Between Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intakes, Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion and Blood Pressure Among Adult Females in Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Objectives: Accurate assessment of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intake is crucial for understanding their relationship with blood pressure (BP). The objective of this study was to compare various methods to assess Na and K intake and to explore the association between these measures of Na and K intake and BP.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 non-pregnant women 18-45 years of age in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Data collection included baseline questionnaires, full-day weighed food records (WFR), laboratory analysis of duplicate diets (DD), and Na and K excretion in spot and 24-hour urine samples. We utilized the Ethiopian Food Composition Table to estimate nutrient intake and applied the INTERSALT method for spot urine excretion analysis. Associations between the assessment methods and BP measurements were examined using simple linear regression, accounting for various covariates.

Results: Mean ± SD of Na from DD, WFR, 24-hour urine (24HrUr) and estimated amount based on spot urines (SPUr) were 2925± 1695 mg, 2791±1491 mg, 3074±1710 mg and 3083±846 mg respectively, exceeding the WHO recommended 2000 mg/d intake. Mean ± SD of K from DD, WFR, 24HrUr and EUr were 2177± 1178 mg, 1605±772 mg, 1519±882 mg and 1506± 242 mg respectively, less than the WHO recommended 3510 mg/d intake. The mean systolic and diastolic BP were 116±14 and 83±9. There was a moderate correlation for Na and K between 24HrUr and SPUr (ρ = 0.55, p= < 0.001) (ρ = 0.36, p= < 0.001). The correlation for Na between DD and 24HrUr and between DD and SPUr was very weak (ρ = 0.17, p= 0.044 and ρ = 0.17, p= 0.039) and for DD and WFR (ρ = 0.48, p= < 0.001). The correlation for K between DD and OUr and between DD and SPUr was very weak (ρ = 0.09, p= 0.566 and ρ = 0.05, p= 0.561) and for DD and WFR (ρ = 0.50, p= < 0.001). WFR, 24HrUr and EUr had a mean Na: K ratio of 2:1 except DD (1:1). The adjusted regression analysis indicated that a change in Na:k ratio from DD, WFR, 24HrUr and SPUr , was not associated with a meaningful change in BP.

Conclusions: Na and K for 24HrUr and SPUr were moderately correlated and WFR and DD were moderately correlated. The urinary Na and K values and intake Na and K values were only weakly correlated with each other, and none of the intake or excretion results were correlated with BP.

Funding Sources: Nutrition international