A review of 29 studies on population sodium intake and 13 prospective cohort studies supports the continued use of 24-h urine collections for assessing sodium intake despite logistic challenges.
What are the current approaches and challenges in using urine biomarkers to assess sodium intake?
This review reinforces 24-hour urine collection as the standard for assessing sodium intake in research, while highlighting the need for alternative modeling approaches due to logistical barriers.
This article summarizes current data and approaches to assess sodium intake in individuals and populations. A review of the literature on sodium excretion and intake estimation supports the continued use of 24-h urine collections for assessing population and individual sodium intake. Since 2000, 29 studies used urine biomarkers to estimate population sodium intake, primarily among adults. More than half used 24-h urine; the rest used a spot/casual, overnight, or 12-h specimen. Associations between individual sodium intake and health outcomes were investigated in 13 prospective cohort studies published since 2000. Only three included an indicator of long-term individual sodium intake, i.e., multiple 24-h urine specimens collected several days apart. Although not insurmountable, logistic challenges of 24-h urine collection remain a barrier for research on the relationship of sodium intake and chronic disease. Newer approaches, including modeling based on shorter collections, offer promise for estimating population sodium intake in some groups.
Cogswell et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in Sodium intake assessment. 24-h urine collections was evaluated. A review of 29 studies on population sodium intake and 13 prospective cohort studies supports the continued use of 24-h urine collections for assessing sodium intake despite logistic challenges.