Mapping salt reduction initiatives in the WHO European Region

Recetly WHO Regional Office for Europe published its study "Mapping salt reduction initiatives in the WHO European Region"

WHO/Europe highlights that:

"Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of mortality globally, accounting for more deaths than all other causes combined. An urgent development issue, NCDs strike hardest at the world’s low- and middle-income populations, where nearly 80% of NCD-related deaths occur. In order to reduce the growing burden of NCDs, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends reducing salt intake in the general population as a cost-effective strategy. Measures in this direction are considered a “best-buy” approach to preventing NCDs.

Salt is a commonly used term referring specifi cally to sodium chloride (5 g salt ≈ 2 g sodium). The positive health impact of reducing an individual’s salt intake is reflected in scientific evidence of a corresponding reduction in blood pressure, among other benefits. Accordingly, WHO recommends a population salt intake level of less than 5 g per person per day for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Salt intake in most WHO European Region countries is far above the suggested amount. The purpose of this report is to present an up-to-date view of current salt reduction initiatives in WHO European Member States by highlighting activities related to the action points of the relevant global frameworks."

 

The full Report could be found at the following link: http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/cardiovascular-diseases/publications/2013/mapping-salt-reduction-initiatives-in-the-who-european-region