ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sodium intake in the Netherlands is substantially above the recommended intake of 2400 mg/day. This study aimed to estimate the effect of two sodium reduction strategies, that is, modification of the composition of industrially processed foods toward the technologically feasible minimum level or alteration of consumers' behavior on sodium intake in the Netherlands. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2007-2010) and the Food Composition Table (2011) were used to estimate the current sodium intake. In the first scenario, levels in processed foods were reduced toward their technologically feasible minimum level (sodium reduction in processed foods scenario). The minimum feasible levels were based on literature searches or expert judgment. In the second scenario, foods consumed were divided into similar food (sub)groups. Subsequently, foods were replaced by low-sodium alternatives (substitution of processed foods scenario). Sodium intake from foods was calculated based on the mean of two observation days for the current food consumption pattern and the scenarios. RESULTS: Sodium levels of processed foods could be reduced in most food groups by 50%, and this may reduce median sodium intake from foods by 38% (from 3042 to 1886 mg/day in adult men). Substitution of foods may reduce sodium intake by 47% (from 3042 to 1627 mg/day in adult men), owing to many low-sodium alternatives within food groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the Netherlands, reduction of sodium intake by modification of food composition or by alteration of behavior may substantially reduce the median sodium intake from foods below the recommended sodium intake.
Subject(s)
Diet, Sodium-Restricted/methods , Fast Foods/standards , Food, Preserved/standards , Nutrition Policy , Patient Compliance , Sodium, Dietary/administration & dosage , Adult , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Diet, Sodium-Restricted/adverse effects , Diet, Sodium-Restricted/ethnology , Fast Foods/analysis , Female , Food Analysis , Food Handling , Food, Preserved/analysis , Humans , Male , Netherlands/epidemiology , Nutrition Surveys , Nutritive Value , Patient Compliance/ethnology , Risk Factors , Sodium, Dietary/analysis , Sodium, Dietary/poisoningABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Front-of-pack nutrition labels can help consumers to make healthier choices and stimulate healthier product development. This is the first modeling study to investigate the potential impact on cholesterol levels of consuming a diet consisting of products that comply with the criteria for a 'healthier choice logo'. SUBJECTS/METHODS: National food consumption and food composition data were used to estimate the nutrient intake of the Dutch adult population (18-70 years) before and after replacing foods that did not comply with the choices front-of-pack label criteria. Different scenarios were established. The difference in cholesterol levels in the Dutch population was assessed before and after replacement by means of equations from meta-analyses that calculate how blood lipids change when diet composition changes. RESULTS: After replacing non-complying products with products, which comply with the label's criteria (maximum scenario), saturated fatty acids median intake reduced from 14.5 to 9.8 en%. Trans-fatty acids reduced from 0.95 to 0.57 en%. The average predicted changes in low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels were -0.25 and -0.31 mmol/l, respectively. Because high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels reduced as well (-0.05 mmol/l), overall, the result was a slightly positive change in the total cholesterol/HDL ratio (-0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the consumption of foods complying with the criteria for a front-of-pack label could contribute moderately to cardiovascular risk reduction via influencing blood lipids. These findings were independent of other potential effects on related health outcomes.
