TABLE 3.
Reported food group contribution to sodium and potassium in the diets of US adults (≥20 y) by Na:K cutoffs, NHANES 2011–20121,2
| Contribution to sodium intakes, % |
Contribution to potassium intakes, % |
|||
| Na:K < 1.0 (n = 1183) | Na:K ≥ 1.0 (n = 3547) | Na:K < 1.0 (n = 1183) | Na:K ≥ 1.0 (n = 3547) | |
| Mixed dishes | 23.3 ± 1.0 | 36.6 ± 1.0* | 10.7 ± 0.7 | 23.4 ± 0.7* |
| Protein foods | 23.6 ± 0.9 | 21.6 ± 0.7 | 14.8 ± 0.7 | 17.8 ± 0.5* |
| Grains | 15.0 ± 0.7 | 12.2 ± 0.3* | 5.9 ± 0.3 | 6.3 ± 0.2 |
| Snacks and sweets | 8.9 ± 0.5 | 7.6 ± 0.3* | 7.4 ± 0.7 | 8.6 ± 0.4 |
| Vegetables | 9.1 ± 0.4 | 5.9 ± 0.3* | 15.5 ± 0.7 | 13.3 ± 0.4* |
| Milk and dairy | 7.8 ± 0.3 | 4.9 ± 0.4* | 11.5 ± 0.71 | 7.6 ± 0.3* |
| Condiments | 3.1 ± 0.3 | 4.8 ± 0.3* | 1.1 ± 0.2 | 2.2 ± 0.1* |
| Fats and oils | 3.4 ± 0.4 | 2.5 ± 0.1* | 0.8 ± 0.1 | 0.8 ± 0.1 |
| Non-alcohol beverages | 3.0 ± 0.4 | 2.2 ± 0.1 | 19.1 ± 1.0 | 12.8 ± 0.4* |
| Water | 1.6 ± 0.1 | 1.1 ± 0.04* | <0.1 | <0.1 |
| Alcohol beverages | <0.5 | <0.5 | 3.0 ± 0.3 | 2.3 ± 0.2* |
| Fruit | <0.1 | <0.1 | 9.3 ± 0.4 | 4.6 ± 0.2* |
1
Values are means ± SEs unless indicated otherwise. t tests were used to compare the Na:K groups with df dictated by the NHANES sample design. *Difference from Na:K < 1.0, P ≤ 0.01. Na:K, dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio.
2
Unlike the National Cancer Institute-adjusted statistics that represent long-term, usual dietary intake estimates presented in Tables 1 and 2, the food intake statistics here are estimates of intake on any given day. The above sample sizes reflect a categorization of the NHANES respondents on the basis of their daily Na:Ks and describe the sample, not the population.