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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329747
Title: Reducing sodium intake in children: a public health investment

Author
item APPEL, LAURENCE - Johns Hopkins University
item LICHTENSTEIN, ALICE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item CALLAHAN, EMILY - American Heart Association
item SINAIKO, ALAN - University Of Minnesota
item VAN HORN, LINDA - Northwestern University
item WHITSEL, LAURIE - American Heart Association

Submitted to: The Journal of Clinical Hypertension
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2015
Publication Date: 7/20/2015
Citation: Appel, L.J., Lichtenstein, A.H., Callahan, E.A., Sinaiko, A., Van Horn, L., Whitsel, L. 2015. Reducing sodium intake in children: a public health investment. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. 17(9):657-662.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: While the clinical manifestations of elevated blood pressure (BPI) occur predominately in adults, the antecedents of chronic diseases (obesity, diabetes, atherosclerotic heart disease, and stroke) begin in childhood. Hence the contemporary approach to halting the epidemic of cardiovascular disease(CVD) emphasizes prevention of risk factors, ideally beginning very early in life among children. Although prevention-oriented strategies are often tested in studies conducted in adults, interventions aimed at reducing BP over the lifespan are likely to have a greater impact if started early in childhood when eating habits are formed and before asymptomatic, pre-clinical abnormalities begin. Currently, efforts are underway to weaken nutrition standards for school food programs, including efforts to repeal targets for sodium. This paper reviews evidence documenting the benefits of strategies that lower sodium intake in children and documenting that proposed reductions in sodium are both feasible and acceptable.