A study of 8,300 older adults revealed a surprising salt habit
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- Frontiers in Public Health published a study of 8,300 Brazilians aged 60+ that examined table‑salt adding habits.
- Men added extra salt at the table at a rate of 12.7% of participants, versus women at 9.4%.
- Women’s salt‑adding behavior correlated with a broader range of dietary and social factors, unlike men.
- WHO recommends adults limit salt intake to no more than five grams per day, yet table salt accounts for 6‑20% of total consumption.
- Dr. Flávia Brito said the habit remains relatively common among older Brazilian adults, especially men.
Why it matters: Brazilian health officials can use the 12.7% male and 9.4% female prevalence data to design gender‑specific salt‑reduction programs, curbing hypertension and cognitive decline and lowering future health‑care spending.
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