Republic of Moldova
Sodium, Potassium and Iodine Intake, in a National Adult Population Sample of the Republic of Moldova
Lanfranco D’Elia, Galina Obreja, Angela Ciobanu, Joao Breda, Jo Jewell, Francesco P. Cappuccio on behalf of the Salt Consumption Survey in the Republic of Moldova Study Group
Nutrients 2019, 11, 2896; doi:10.3390/nu11122896
Abstract
In the Republic of Moldova, more than half of all deaths due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Excess salt (sodium) and inadequate potassium intakes are associated with high CVD. Moreover, salt iodisation is the preferred policy to prevent iodine deficiency and associated disorders. However, there is no survey that has directly measured sodium, potassium and iodine consumption in adults in the Republic of Moldova. A national random sample of adults attended a screening including demographic, anthropometric and physical measurements. Sodium, potassium and iodine intakes were assessed by 24 h urinary sodium (UNa), potassium (UK) and iodine (UI) excretions. Knowledge, attidues and behaviours were collected by questionnaire. Eight-hundred and fifty-eight participants (326 men and 532 women, 18–69 years) were included in the analysis (response rate 66%). Mean age was 48.5 years (SD 13.8). Mean UNa was 172.7 (79.3) mmoL/day, equivalent to 10.8 g of salt/day and potassium excretion 72.7 (31.5) mmoL/day, equivalent to 3.26 g/day. Only 11.3% met the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended salt targets of 5 g/day and 39% met potassium targets (>90 mmoL/day). Whilst 81.7% declared limiting their consumption of processed food and over 70% not adding salt at the table, only 8.8% looked at sodium content of food, 31% still added salt when cooking and less than 1% took other measures to control salt consumption. Measures of awareness were significantly more common in urban compared to rural areas. Mean urinary iodine was 225 (SD: 152; median 196) mcg/24 h, with no difference between sexes. According to WHO criteria, 41.0% had adequate iodine intake. Iodine content of salt table was 21.0 (SD: 18.6) mg/kg, lower in rural than urban areas (16.7, SD = 18.6 vs. 28.1, SD = 16.5 mg/kg, p < 0.001). In most cases participants were not using iodised salt as their main source of salt, more so in rural areas. In the Republic of Moldova, salt consumption is unequivocally high, potassium consumption is lower than recommended, both in men and in women, whilst iodine intake is still inadequate in one in three people, although severe iodine deficiency is rare. Salt consumed is often not iodised.
Training Meeting for a National Survey on Salt Consumption
5th December 2015
Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
The W.H.O. Collaborating Centre of the University of Warwick is providing technical support to the National Centre of Public Health of the Republic of Moldova, as part of its remits to support the W.H.O. Region for Europe in the implementation of population salt reduction programmes in Member States. The technical support will help define the methodology and the tools for a national survey on salt intake in Moldova, providing training for national co-ordinators and support during data collection, process and analysis.
The first meeting was held in Chisinau on 5th December 2015 and was attended by Prof Francesco P Cappuccio from the W.H.O. Collaborating Centre, Dr Angela Ciobanu, W.H.O. Representative in Moldova, Dr Valeriu Gonceear representing the Ministry of Health and Dr Ion Salaru and Dr Galina Obreja of the National Centre of Public Health of the Republic of Moldova (see programme).
Participants to the first training day in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Salt intake (g/day) in the Republic of Moldova (2016)
| Mean | SD | |
| Men (n=326) | 11.5 | 5.4 |
| Women (n=532) | 10.3 | 4.6 |
| All (n=858) | 10.8 | 4.9 |
Method: 24h urine collection
Programme
Informing national salt reduction strategies. Moldovan Med J 2018
Salt reduction initiatives in the Republic of Moldova (Dec 2018)
Republic of Moldova: new research establishes baseline salt intake (Dec 2018)
Moldovans consume double the recommended salt intake (Nov 2018)
Intersectoral salt reduction initiatives in Republic of Moldova (Mar 2018)
WHO provides support to intersectoral salt reduction initiatives in Republic of Moldova (Jan 2018)
WHO Country assessment for NCD in the Republic of Moldova (2014)
WHO Country Office, Republic of Moldova
Sfatul Tarii Str. 29
Chisinau MD-2012
Tel.: +373 22839960, +373 22 839972
Fax: +373 22839970
Email address: eurowhomda@who.int