A randomized-controlled trial was conducted in adult 18-70 years old with hypertensive patients (SBP>130 mmHg) in Uthaithani. Participants were randomized to intervention groups (education, reformulation, environmental change and used salt meter) and control group (standard education and treatment). Trial was followed up for 12 weeks. The primary objective was change in 24-hour urinary sodium excretion between groups and secondary objectives was change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Sodium is an essential nutrient for humans, but excessive sodium consumption is causally associated with high blood pressure and increase risk of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary sodium consumption of greater than the recommended daily amount of 5 grams of salt or 2,000 mg of sodium is a major risk factor for CVD-related mortality. From recent national survey, Thai people had consumed more than 9.1 g of salt per day, which was nearly two times above WHO reference level. Dietary salt reduction was unsuccessful because of lacking awareness, and the higher threshold to detect salt taste in chronic high salt ingestion. To create awareness in the community, we should be educated, managed the environmental for salt reduction, and used salt meter to detect sodium content in daily food. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intervention; education, reformulation, environmental change and used salt meter compared with standard treatment alone in terms of salt intake reduction and blood pressure.