Consistency between 3 days' dietary records and 24-h urine in estimating salt intake in children and adolescents

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the salt intake in boarding school students and the consistency between salt intake measurements based on 24-h urine and weighed dietary records over 3 consecutive days in this population. METHODS: This was a school-based cross-sectional study. Overweight (including obesity) or hypertensive students aged 6–14 years and their normal counterparts were recruited for this study at three boarding schools in China. Three consecutive 24-h urine samples were collected from all participants. During the collection period of 24-h urine, the weighed diet records were collected in children who had all three meals at the school canteens on weekdays. Incomplete 24-h urine or dietary records were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: The median salt excretion was 6,218 [4,636, 8,290] mg by 24-h urine and 120 (82.2%) consumed excess salt among the participants. The median salt intake was 8,132 [6,348, 9,370] mg by dietary records and 112 (97.4%) participants consumed excess salt than recommended in participants who have all three meals in the school canteens. In children with complete dietary records and 24-h urine, the level of salt intake estimated by 24-h urine accounted for 79.6% of the dietary records. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that boarding school students consumed excessive salt from school canteens. Thus, policies or strategies targeting school canteens are urgently needed. Weighed dietary records are recommended if feasible.