The implementation of salt reduction strategies should be sped up in Africa: a shout from Morocco

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality and a major contributor to disability globally. High dietary sodium is one of the major risk factors for CVD. It is associated with hypertension and increased risk of stroke and heart disease. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, in 2019, high dietary sodium accounted for an estimated 1.7 million cardiovascular deaths worldwide, representing ~ 10% of the overall cardiovascular mortality. In view of the huge burden of high dietary sodium, salt reduction has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one the most efficient and cost-effective measures that can improve population health outcomes. The WHO recommends that adults consume less than 2 g of sodium per day which corresponds to less than 5 g (just under a teaspoon) of salt per day. The Global Burden of Diseases Nutrition and Chronic Diseases Expert Group (NutriCoDE) estimated the global mean sodium intake at 3.95 g per day in 2010, almost twice the recommended maximum level of intake. The WHO projected that nearly 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt consumption were reduced to the recommended level.

Keywords

• salt reduction
• hypertension
• cardiovascular disease
• africa