Salt-Intake-Related Behavior Varies between Sexes and Is Strongly Associated with Daily Salt Consumption in Obese Patients at High Risk for MASLD

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) imposes a significant burden on Westernized regions. The Western diet, high in salt intake, significantly contributes to disease development. However, there are a lack of data on salt literacy and salt intake among MASLD pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bianca Heller, Florian P. Reiter, Hans Benno Leicht, Cornelia Fiessler, Ina Bergheim, Peter U. Heuschmann, Andreas Geier, Monika Rau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Nutrients
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/18/3942
Description
Summary:Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) imposes a significant burden on Westernized regions. The Western diet, high in salt intake, significantly contributes to disease development. However, there are a lack of data on salt literacy and salt intake among MASLD patients in Germany. Our study aims to analyze daily salt intake and salt-intake-related behavior in MASLD patients. Methods: 234 MASLD patients were prospectively included. Daily salt intake and salt-intake-related behavior were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ—DEGS) and a salt questionnaire (SINU). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Results: Mean daily salt intake was higher in men than in women (7.3 ± 5 g/d vs. 5.3 ± 4 g/d; <i>p</i> < 0.001). There was significant agreement between increased daily salt intake (>6 g/d) and the behavioral salt index (SI) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Men exhibited higher SI scores compared to women, indicating lower awareness of salt in everyday life. Multivariate analysis identified specific salt-intake-related behaviors impacting daily salt consumption. Conclusions: Our study reveals a strong link between daily salt intake and salt-intake-related behavior, highlighting sex-specific differences in an MASLD cohort. To enhance patient care in high-cardiovascular-risk populations, specific behavioral approaches may be considered, including salt awareness, to improve adherence to lifestyle changes, particularly in male patients.
ISSN:2072-6643