Is urinary sodium excretion related to anthropometric indicators of adiposity in adults?

Noushin Mohammadifard; Fahimeh Haghighatdoost; Fatemeh Nouri; Alireza Khosravi; Nizal Sarrafzadegan

doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_1048_18

Is urinary sodium excretion related to anthropometric indicators of adiposity in adults?

J Res Med Sci. 2020 May 22:25:50. doi: 10.4103/jrms.JRMS_1048_18. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Noushin Mohammadifard¹, Fahimeh Haghighatdoost², Fatemeh Nouri³, Alireza Khosravi⁴, Nizal Sarrafzadegan²

Affiliations

¹ Hypertension Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
² Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
³ Heart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
⁴ Interventional Cardiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Although increasing salt intake is associated with greater odds of obesity, little is known about its relationship with body fat. We investigated the relation of urinary sodium (UNa) with obesity indices, including Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator (CUN-BAE), a body shape index (ABSI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).

Materials and methods: A total of 508 free-living adults aged ≥ 19 years were selected through stratified multistage random method as a representative of general population from central parts of Iran and were included in this cross-sectional study. Dietary sodium intake was measured using 24-h UNa (24-UNa) excretion. Weight, height, and WC were measured using standard protocols and calibrated equipment and used to measure obesity indicators, including BMI, WHtR, ABSI, and CUN-BAE. Adjusted univariate multiple logistic regression was used to assess the risk of having greater obesity measures across the tertiles of 24-UNa.

Results: Individuals in the top tertile of 24-UNa in comparison with those in the first tertile had greater body weight (72.02 ± 1.00 vs. 66.02 ± 0.89 kg; P < 0.0001), BMI (26.14 ± 0.33 vs. 24.82 ± 0.29 kg/m²; P = 0.007), and CUN-BAE (29.89 ± 0.42 vs. 28.38 ± 0.78; P = 0.036). There was a trend toward an increment in WC by increasing sodium intake (P = 0.073). After controlling for potential confounders, individuals with greater sodium consumption had greater chance for overweight (odds ratio [OR]: 1.004, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.007; P = 0.015), abdominal obesity (OR: 1.004, 95% CI: 1.00-1.008; P = 0.031), and more body fat (OR: 1.007, 95% CI: 1.003-1.01; P = 0.001). No significant association was found for sodium and WHtR and ABSI.

Conclusion: Greater 24-UNa excretion was associated with greater means of body weight, BMI, WC, and CUN-BAE. Although changes in obesity indices per each additional 24-UNa excretion were small, our findings are relevant because of the rising obesity epidemic.

Keywords: Abdominal obesity; body fat; obesity; salt; sodium.