Moreira, PedroSousa, Ana SofiaGuerra, Rita S.Santos, AlejandroBorges, NunoAfonso, CláudiaAmaral, Teresa F.Padrão, Patrícia2019-04-122019-04-122018-02-27Moreira P, Sousa A, Guerra R, Santos A, Borges N, Afonso C, Amaral T, Padrão P. Sodium and potassium urinary excretion and their ratio in the elderly: results from the Nutrition UP 65 study. fnr [Internet]. 2018Feb.27 [cited 2019Apr.12];620. Available from: https://foodandnutritionresearch.net/index.php/fnr/article/view/1288http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/3892Background: We aimed to describe urinary sodium and potassium excretion and their ratio in a representative sample of Portuguese elderly population, according to sociodemographic characteristics and weight status. Methods: A cluster sampling approach was used, representing older Portuguese adults (≥65 years) according to age, sex, education level, and regional area within the Nutrition UP 65 study. This cross-sectional evaluation was conducted in 2015 and 2016. From a sample size of 1,500 participants, 1,318 were eligible for the present analysis, 57.3% were women, and 23.5% were aged ≥80 years. Sodium and potassium consumption was evaluated through one 24 h urinary excretion. Inadequate sodium intake was defined as ≥2,000 mg/day, inadequate potassium intake was considered as <3,510 mg/day, and inadequate sodium-to-potassium ratio was defined as >1, according to the World Health Organization cutoffs. Results: The proportion of the participants with an inadequate intake was 80.0% in women and 91.5% in men (sodium), 96.2% of women and 79.4% of men (potassium), and 98.4% of women and 99.1% of men (sodium- to-potassium ratio). Higher sodium adequacy was observed among the older elderly, unmarried, with lower household income, and underweight/normal weight. Higher potassium adequacy was observed in the younger elderly, married, and with higher income. Conclusion: The majority of the Portuguese elderly population was classified as having inadequate sodium, potassium, and sodium-to-potassium ratio urinary excretion. Therefore, strategies for reducing sodium and increasing potassium intake are priorities in the Portuguese elderly population.engSodiumPotassiumSodium-to-potassium ratioElderlyUrinary excretionjournal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v62.1288