OBJECTIVE: The salt (NaCl) content of bread, obtained from Belgium and 25 other regions or countries worldwide, was analyzed to evaluate the importance of bread as a source of dietary salt in a population. METHODS: A total of 1166 dried bread samples were analyzed using a hot HCl extraction technique followed by flame photometry and performed by the same laboratory technician in Leuven (Belgium); 534 samples from Leuven were analyzed over 10 time periods from 1967-73 to 1992 together with 562 samples from 11 other European countries, 44 from the United States and Peru, and 26 from Asia. RESULTS: The average mean salt content of fresh bread (= dried bread times 0.6) in European countries was 12.4 +/- 1.7 g/kg for white and 13 +/- 1.0 g/kg for brown bread. In Japan and Korea it was about 8.5 g/kg and in Pakistan, Thailand, Nepal, and Laos about 5 g/kg. The mean sodium/potassium ratio with Na and K in mmol was 8.0 for white and 4.5 for brown bread, much higher than the recommended value of 1.0. Bread with a very low salt content was found in certain areas of Peru, Spain, and Italy. CONCLUSION: The overall salt content of bread in Western countries is excessive, and a gradual reduction is highly desirable.
OBJECTIVE: The salt (NaCl) content of bread, obtained from Belgium and 25 other regions or countries worldwide, was analyzed to evaluate the importance of bread as a source of dietary salt in a population. METHODS: A total of 1166 dried bread samples were analyzed using a hot HCl extraction technique followed by flame photometry and performed by the same laboratory technician in Leuven (Belgium); 534 samples from Leuven were analyzed over 10 time periods from 1967-73 to 1992 together with 562 samples from 11 other European countries, 44 from the United States and Peru, and 26 from Asia. RESULTS: The average mean salt content of fresh bread (= dried bread times 0.6) in European countries was 12.4 +/- 1.7 g/kg for white and 13 +/- 1.0 g/kg for brown bread. In Japan and Korea it was about 8.5 g/kg and in Pakistan, Thailand, Nepal, and Laos about 5 g/kg. The mean sodium/potassium ratio with Na and K in mmol was 8.0 for white and 4.5 for brown bread, much higher than the recommended value of 1.0. Bread with a very low salt content was found in certain areas of Peru, Spain, and Italy. CONCLUSION: The overall salt content of bread in Western countries is excessive, and a gradual reduction is highly desirable.
Authors: Justin B Echouffo-Tcheugui; Andre P Kengne; Sebhat Erqou; Richard S Cooper Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2015-07-30 Impact factor: 3.738
Authors: Jean Jacques N Noubiap; Jean Joel R Bigna; Jobert Richie N Nansseu Journal: J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) Date: 2014-11-10 Impact factor: 3.738