Table 2 Guidelines for the evaluation of salt intake [25]

From: Practical and personal education of dietary therapy in hypertensive patients

Primary users

Evaluation method

Recommend ability

Special facilities for hypertension treatment

Measurement of sodium (Na) excretion in 24-h pooled urine, weighting or a 24-h recollection dietary survey by a registered dietician.

These methods are highly reliable and recommendable, but are complicated. Recommended if the cooperation of patients and ability of facilities are secured.

Medical facilities in general

Measurement of Na and creatinine (Cr) in spot urinea and second urine after waking, survey regarding the frequency of meals, and dietary history method.

Although the reliability is slightly lower than 24-h urine pooling, the method is simple and is recommended as a practical evaluation procedure.

Patients themselves

Estimation in early morning urine (nighttime urine) using an electronic salt sensor installed with a calculation formula.

Although the reliability is low, the method is recommendable. It is convenient and can be performed by the patients themselves.

  1. Estimated Cr excretion in 24-h urine (mg/day) = body weight (kg) × 14.89 + height (cm) × 16.14 – age × 2.043 – 2244.45
  2. aThe following formula for estimation of 24-h urinary sodium excretion using spot urine:
  3. 24-h urinary Na excretion (mEq/day) = 21.98 × [spot urine Na (mEq/L) ÷ spot urine Cr (mg/dL) ÷ 10 × estimated Cr excretion in 24-h urine]0.392
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