No change in 24-hour salt intake estimated from spot urine in Norwegian adults from 2006 to 2019. The population-based HUNT Study

Objective Monitoring time trends in salt consumption is important for evaluating the impact of salt reduction initiatives on public health outcomes. There has so far not been available data to indicate if salt consumption in Norway has changed during the previous decade. We aimed to assess whether average 24-hour salt intake estimated from spot urine samples in the adult population of mid-Norway changed from 2006-08 to 2017-19, and to describe variations by sex, age, and educational level. Design Repeated cross-sectional studies. Setting The population-based HUNT Study. Participants In each of two consecutive waves (HUNT3: 2006-08 and HUNT4: 2017-19), spot urine samples were collected from 500 men and women aged 25-64 years, in addition to 250 men and women aged 70-79 years in HUNT4. Based on spot urine concentrations of sodium, potassium and creatinine, age, sex, and body mass index, we estimated 24-hour sodium intake using the INTERSALT equation for the Northern European region. Results Mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) estimated 24-hour salt intakes in men were 11.1 (95% CI 10.8, 11.3) g in HUNT3 and 10.9 (95% CI 10.6, 11.1) g in HUNT4, p=0.25. Corresponding values in women were 7.7 (95% CI 7.5, 7.9) g and 7.7 (95% CI 7.5, 7.9) g, p=0.88. Mean estimated salt intake in HUNT4 decreased with increasing age in women, but not in men, and it did not differ significantly across educational level in either sex. Conclusions Estimated 24-hour salt intake in adult men and women in mid-Norway did not change from 2006-08 to 2017-19.