Assessment of 24 h Sodium and Potassium Urinary Excretion in Normotensive and Hypertensive Dominican Adults.

Higher salt (sodium) intake has been associated with higher blood pressure (BP). The degree of association may be influenced by factors such as age, origin, and dietary components. This study aimed to evaluate the 24 h urinary sodium (Na) and potassium (K) excretion in normotensive and hypertensive Dominican adults and estimate their salt intake. 163 volunteers (18-80 years old) participated in a cross-sectional study. The 24 h Na and K urinary excretion were measured using an ion-selective electrode technique. Na and K urinary excretion (99.4 ± 46.5 and 35.0 ± 17.5 mmol/24 h) did not correlate with BP, except in the normotensive group, in which K correlated with SBP (0.249, p = 0.019). Na and K excretion were similar in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. When considering two age groups (18-45, 46-80 years), the Na-to-K molar ratio (3.1 ± 1.3) was higher in younger subjects (p = 0.040). Na-to-K ratio was associated with DBP in the total group (r = 0.153, p = 0.052), in the hypertensive group (r = 0.395, p < 0.001), and in the older group with SBP (0.350, p = 0.002) and DBP (0.373, p < 0.001). In the older group, Na-to-K ratio and DBP correlated after controlling for subjects with hypertension controlled by treatment (r = 0.236, p = 0.041). The Na-to-K ratio correlated, when salt intake was over 5 g/day (52.2%), with SBP (rho = 0.219, p = 0.044) and DBP (rho = 0.259, p = 0.017). Determinants of BP in the total sample were age (SBP, beta: 0.6 ± 0.1, p < 0.001; DBP, beta: 0.2 ± 0.1, p < 0.002), sex (SBP, beta: 11.2 ± 3.5, p = 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (SBP, beta: 1.0 ± 0.3, p < 0.001; DBP, beta: 0.4 ± 0.2, p = 0.01), and Na-to-K ratio (SBP, beta: 3.0 ± 1.1, p = 0.008; DBP, beta: -12.3 ± 4.0, p = 0.002). Sex and BMI were determinants in the younger group. Na-to-K molar ratio was determinant in the older group (SBP, beta: 6.7 ± 2.4, p = 0.005; DBP, beta: 3.8 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). The mean Na and salt intakes (2.3 and 5.8 g/day) were slightly higher and the K intake lower (1.4 g/day) than WHO recommendations.

Assessment of individual carotenoid and vitamin A dietary intake in overweight and obese Dominican subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Carotenoids are plant pigment with important biological activities in humans, such as provitamin-A among others. At present, there are no individual carotenoid intake data in the Dominican population, which is at risk of vitamin A deficiency and has an important percentage of overweight and obese individuals . OBJECTIVE: To assess the individual components of vitamin A intake (retinol, α-carotene, ß-carotene and ß-cryptoxanthin) and that of other relevant dietary carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene of Dominican daily food intake. METHODS: Fifty overweigth and obese subjects (22-69 y). Individual carotenoid intake, from whole diet and from the ingestion of fruits and vegetables, was determined using three 24 h diet recalls and a specific carotenoid database. Retinol, macronutrient and energy intake were calculated using DIAL® software. RESULTS: The total carotenoid intake was 6363.2 µg/day, 56. 1% corresponding to provitamin A carotenoids (74.3% ß-carotene). Vitamin A intake was supplied by retinol (40%) and by provitamin A carotenoids (60%); vegetables contributed more than fruits (39.2% and 19.2%, respectively). Non-provitamin A carotenoid intake represents 43.9% of the total intake and is supplied by lycopene and lutein plus zeaxanthin in similar percentages (52.3% and 47.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The diet of these Dominican subjets met the recommended vitamin A intake, when expressed as retinol equivalents, 59% of which was supplied by provitamin-A carotenoids from plant sources, mainly by red/orange and white/yellow foods. Individual carotenoid intake is an aspect of great interest for issuing dietary recommendations in the public health setting.

Assessment of individual carotenoid and vitamin A dietary intake in overweight and obese Dominican subjects / Valoración de la ingesta individualizada de carotenoides y de vitamina A en sujetos dominicanos con sobrepeso y obesidad

Introduction: Carotenoids are plant pigment with important biological activities in humans, such as provitamin-A among others. At present, there are no individual carotenoid intake data in the Dominican population, which is at risk of vitamin A deficiency and has an important percentage of overweight and obese individuals. Objective: To assess the individual components of vitamin A intake (retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin) and that of other relevant dietary carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene of Dominican daily food intake. Methods: Fifty overweigth and obese subjects (22-69 y). Individual carotenoid intake, from whole diet and from the ingestion of fruits and vegetables, was determined using three 24 h diet recalls and a specific carotenoid database. Retinol, macronutrient and energy intake were calculated using DIAL® software. Results: The total carotenoid intake was 6363.2 μg/day, 56 .1% corresponding to provitamin A carotenoids (74.3% β-carotene). Vitamin A intake was supplied by retinol (40%) and by provitamin A carotenoids (60%); vegetables contributed more than fruits (39.2% and 19.2%, respectively). Non-provitamin A carotenoid intake represents 43.9% of the total intake and is supplied by lycopene and lutein plus zeaxanthin in similar percentages (52.3% and 47.7%, respectively). Conclusions: The diet of these Dominican subjets met the recommended vitamin A intake, when expressed as retinol equivalents, 59% of which was supplied by provitamin-A carotenoids from plant sources, mainly by red/orange and white/yellow foods. Individual carotenoid intake is an aspect of great interest for issuing dietary recommendations in the public health setting (AU)

Introducción: los carotenoides son pigmentos con importantes actividades biológicas en los seres humanos, entre las que detaca la actividad provitamínica A. No hay datos de ingesta de carotenoides en la población dominicana, en la que hay un elevado porcentaje de individuos con sobrepreso y obesidad, así como riesgo de deficiencia en vitamina A. Objetivo: valorar la ingesta de los componentes individuales de vitamina A (retinol, β-caroteno, α-caroteno, β-criptoxantina) y de otros carotenoides relevantes (licopeno, luteína, zeaxantina) en sujetos dominicanos. Métodos: cincuenta sujetos con sobrepeso y obesidad (22-69 años). Tres recuerdos de dieta de 24 h y una aplicación específica para carotenoides, para valorar ingesta de carotenoides a partir de la dieta total y de la ingesta de frutas y hortalizas. La ingesta de retinol, macronutrientes y energía se calcula utilizando la aplicación DIAL®. Resultados: la ingesta total de carotenoides fue 6363,2 μg/día, correspondiendo el 56,1% a carotenoides provitamina-A (74,3% β-caroteno). La ingesta de vitamina A procede del retinol (40%) y de los carotenoides provitamínicos (60%); las hortalizas contribuyeron más que las frutas (39,2% y 19,2%, respectivamente). Los carotenoides no-provitamínicos representaron el 43,9% de la ingesta total, con un aporte de licopeno y de luteína más zeaxantina en proporciones similares (52,3% y 47,7%, respectivamente). Conclusiones: la dieta de estos sujetos dominicanos cubre las recomendaciones de ingesta de vitamina A, expresada en equivalentes de retinol, siendo aportada por fuentes vegetales en un 59%, principalmente a partir de alimentos de colores rojo/anaranjado y blanco/amarillento. La ingesta individual de carotenoides es un aspecto de gran interés para emitir recomendaciones dietéticas en el ámbito de la salud pública (AU)