Effects of single-session dietary counseling by dieticians on salt reduction in cardiology outpatients who consumed large amounts of salt

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of single-session dietary counseling on salt restriction in Japanese cardiology outpatients as assessed using spot urine measurements. A total of 72 patients (73±11 years old, including 30 females) who visited a cardiology outpatient clinic and had a salt intake of >8 g/day were included in this study. The patients received dietary counseling for salt restriction by expert dieticians at the time of enrollment. The daily dietary salt intake was estimated using the spot urine test at baseline prior to dietary counseling, at 3-9 weeks (next office visit), and at 24-52 weeks during follow-up evaluations. The baseline level of estimated salt excretion was 11.3±1.5 g/day, which was reduced to 9.6±2.3 g/day (P<0.01) at 3-9 weeks, but increased again at 24-52 weeks to 10.4±2.1 g/day, which was less than the baseline value (P=0.034 vs. 3-9 weeks; P=0.025 vs. baseline). The numbers of patients who achieved salt excretion levels of <6.0 and <8.0 g/day at 3-9 weeks were 4 (5.6%) and 19 (26%) patients, respectively, and were further reduced to no patients (0%; P=0.043 vs. 3-9 weeks) and 9 (13%; P=0.035 vs. 3-9 weeks) patients at 24-52 weeks of follow-up evaluation, respectively. In conclusion, the efficacy of dietary counseling by expert dieticians in restricting the salt intake of patients who consumed large amounts of salt was modest and temporary. Multiple nutritional- and behavioral-oriented approaches should be considered to achieve further reductions in salt intake.