International Call to Action on Dietary Salt Guidelines: Implications for Nigeria

The World Hypertension League (WHL) has issued an international call to action on dietary salt guidelines, warning that low-quality research, the conduct of some scientists, and undeclared vested interests are undermining the reduction of sodium intake in the global population. This is a major concern, as cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death globally.

The WHL is calling on government health and advanced education ministries, universities, research ethics boards, journals, and institutions to take specific steps to address these concerns. These steps include:

• Strengthening research ethics and transparency: This includes requiring researchers to disclose all funding sources and register their clinical trials publicly.
• Improving the quality of research on dietary salt and CVD: This includes requiring researchers to use rigorous study designs and to report their results in a clear and transparent manner.
• Addressing conflicts of interest: This includes prohibiting scientists from serving on advisory boards for the food industry or from accepting funding from the food industry.

The WHL’s call to action is particularly relevant to Nigeria, where the estimated daily salt intake is 5.8–25 g/day. This is significantly higher than the WHO daily recommendation of <5 g/day. The Nigerian government has set a national target to reduce salt/sodium consumption to 3 g/day by 2025.

Excess sodium consumption is a major risk factor for CVD, which is a leading cause of death and disability in Nigeria. It is estimated that 10% of all deaths from CVD in Nigeria are due to excess dietary sodium.

The Janet Inwang Foundation urges the Nigerian government, academia, and other stakeholders to take heed of the WHL’s call to action. By taking steps to strengthen research ethics, improve the quality of research on dietary salt and CVD, and address conflicts of interest, we can help to reduce sodium intake and improve the health of Nigerians.

Here are some specific actions that the Nigerian government can take to address the high levels of sodium intake in the country:

• Implement population-wide interventions to reduce sodium intake. This could include front-of-pack labeling, product reformulation, and public education campaigns.
• Support research on dietary salt and CVD in Nigeria. This research could help to identify the most effective ways to reduce sodium intake and improve cardiovascular health in the Nigerian population.
• Strengthen enforcement of food safety regulations. This could help to reduce sodium levels in processed foods.

Individuals can also take steps to reduce their sodium intake by:

• Eating less processed foods. Processed foods are often high in sodium.
• Cooking more meals at home. This gives you more control over the amount of sodium in your food.
• Use fresh herbs and spices instead of salt to season food.
• Reading food labels carefully and choosing foods that are low in sodium.

By working together, we can reduce sodium intake and improve the cardiovascular health of Nigerians.

Download the Full PDF Call to Action.