How will South Africa’s mandatory salt reduction policy affect its salt iodisation programme? A cross-sectional analysis from the WHO-SAGE Wave 2 Salt & Tobacco study

Abstract

Objective

The WHO’s global targets for non-communicable disease reduction recommend consumption of<5 g salt/day. In 2016, South Africa was the first country to legislate maximum salt levels in processed foods. South Africa’s salt iodisation fortification programme has successfully addressed iodine deficiency but information is dated. Simultaneous monitoring of sodium reduction and iodine status is required to ensure compatibility of the two public health interventions.

Design/setting/participants

A nested cohort design within WHO’s 2015 Study on global AGEing and adult health (n=2887) including individuals from households across South Africa. Randomly selected adults (n=875) provided 24-hour and spot urine samples for sodium and iodine concentration analysis (the primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively). Median 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and spot urinary iodine concentrations (UIC) were compared by salt intakes of <5g/day, 5–9g/dayand >9 g/day.

Results

Median daily sodium excretion was equivalent to 6.3 g salt/day (range 1–43 g/day); 35% had urinary sodium excretion values within the desirable range (<5 g salt/day), 37% had high values (5–9 g salt/day) and 28% had very high values (>9 g salt/day). Median UIC was 130 µg/L (IQR=58–202), indicating population iodine sufficiency (≥100 µg/L). Both UIC and UIE differed across salt intake categories (p<0.001) and were positively correlated with estimated salt intake (r=0.166 and 0.552, respectively; both p<0.001). Participants with salt intakes of <5 g/day were not meeting the Estimated Average Requirement for iodine intake (95 µg/day).

Conclusions

In a nationally representative sample of South African adults, the association between indicators of population iodine status (UIC and UIE) and salt intake, estimated using 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, indicate that low salt intakes may compromise adequacy of iodine intakes in a country with mandatory iodisation of table salt. The iodine status of populations undergoing salt reduction strategies needs to be closely monitored to prevent re-emergence of iodine deficiency.

Strengths and limitations of this study.

• The study uses the current gold standard of 24-hour urine to assess sodium intake.

• Timing of the study was immediately prior to legislation of maximum permitted salt levels in processed foods.

• The large sample size includes coastal and inland populations from across the country.

• Lack of dietary data precludes assessment of sources of iodine or sodium.

• The data are only for adults and not children.

Introduction

Iodine deficiency remains the largest preventable cause of brain damage and mental impairment worldwide. Thyroid hormone production requires an adequate supply of iodine from the diet, and is essential to metabolism and growth across the life cycle. As well as cretinism in its most severe form, iodine deficiency can also result in miscarriages, stillbirths and impaired psychomotor development and behavioural problems in children born to iodine-deficient mothers.¹ To prevent iodine deficiency disorders, the WHO has endorsed universal salt iodisation (USI), where all salt for human and animal consumption is iodised.^{2 3} USI is hailed as a public health success story, as 75% of the world’s population was estimated in 2016 to use iodised salt in a total of 130 countries.^{4 5} The 2016 global estimate of iodine nutrition, based on surveys of school-age children conducted between 2002 and 2016, shows that the iodine intake is insufficient in 15 countries, sufficient in 102 and excessive in 10.^{6 7} Among the 15 countries with insufficient intake, only two are classified as moderately deficient and 13 as mildly deficient. This represents a reduction in the number of countries with insufficient iodine intake, from 32 in 2011,⁸ to 25 countries in 2015,⁹ to 15 countries in 2016⁶ which reflects continuing progress to improved coverage of iodised salt at the national level.¹⁰

In South Africa, mandatory iodisation of table salt, at a level of 40–60 ppm, replaced voluntary iodisation in December 1995, using potassium iodate as the fortificant¹¹ because of its stability in warm climates,¹² rather than potassium iodide that is used in North America and Europe. The level of fortification was subsequently revised in 2007 to allow a wider range, namely 35–65 ppm.¹³ The iodisation programme has effectively addressed iodine deficiency in the country, but there are some loopholes in the programme, such as the domestic use of non-iodised agricultural salt in some regions.^{13 14} In 2005, 78% of households nationwide purchased salt for household uses from typical food stores. At the same time, 8%–37% of households across all the provinces of South Africa obtained salt for household use from ‘unconventional’ channels such as agricultural and other sources of non-iodised salt. Under the legislation, salt used in the manufacturing of processed foods and salt packaged in bags of at least 20 kg are also exempted from mandatory iodisation.¹¹ In 2005, 77% of households in the country used adequately iodised salt, described as salt containing more than 15 ppm of iodine.¹³ However, data on the iodine status of the South African population are outdated and a national survey was last conducted in 2005.¹⁴ At that time, South African women and children aged 6–9 years old were found to have an optimal iodine status (ie, median urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) 100–199 mg/L, <20% with UIC levels <50 mg/L)¹⁵ which indicated a well-functioning salt iodisation programme.^{6 16}

At the same time as salt iodisation efforts around the world are being celebrated, there is a global focus on salt reduction efforts to lower population-level blood pressure (BP). The WHO and World Health Assembly targets to reduce non-communicable diseases include a 30% reduction in population salt intake by 2025.^{17 18} South Africa was the first country to implement mandatory legislation in July 2016 for maximum salt levels permitted in a wide range of processed foods¹⁹ that are significant contributors to the sodium intake of the population.^20–23 The legislation is predicted to decrease population-level salt intake by 0.85 g/day²⁴ and reduce annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases by 11%. This public health strategy is estimated to save the government US$51.25 million/year in healthcare costs; and save households more than US$4 million/year in out-of-pocket medical expenses.²⁵

Since salt is the vehicle for iodine fortification, successful campaigns to reduce salt intake would also likely result in reduced iodine intake.²⁶ Dietary modelling conducted in the Netherlands estimated the effect of 12%, 25% and 50% decreases in salt from processed foods and table salt.²⁶ Only at a 50% salt decrease would iodine intake become inadequate for a small percentage of the population which, at that time, confirmed a lack of conflict between population-wide strategies of decreasing salt while ensuring adequate consumption of iodised salt to prevent iodine deficiency. We have previously reported no difference in MUIC across categories of sodium excretion equivalent to salt intakes of <5g/day, 5–9g/day and >9g/day in a convenience sample of 262 adult men and women in Cape Town in 2004.²⁷ It was concluded that this was because much of the dietary salt consumed was provided from non-iodinated sources, presumably in salt added to processed foods. Given the introduction of the salt reduction legislation, it is timeous to assess the iodine status of the South African population, according to salt intakes.

The aim of the current study was to simultaneously measure sodium (Na) and iodine in 24-hour and spot urinary collections in an adult cohort to determine whether lower salt intakes are associated with a suboptimal iodine status.

Methods

A nested observational study was conducted as part of Wave 2 of the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE). WHO-SAGE is a multinational cohort study examining the health and well-being of adult populations and the ageing process. Two waves of this longitudinal study have been completed in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.²⁸ In total, 42 464 respondents were recruited across the six countries for Wave 1 (2007–2010), including 4223 respondents in South Africa (9% 18–49 years; 40% 50–59 years; 51% 60+ years). Respondents were recruited from selected probability sampled enumeration areas (EA) using a multistage cluster sampling strategy, with stratification by province, residence and race. Urine capture was included as part of SAGE South Africa Wave 2 data collection. The sampling strategy was designed to account for attrition, where households were classified into the following mutually exclusive categories: (1) SAGE Wave 1 follow-up households with one or more members aged 50 years or more targeted for selection; (2) new households with one or more members aged 50 years or more; (3) SAGE Wave 1 follow-up households which include residents aged 18–49 targeted for selection; or (4) new households which include residents aged 18–49. Further detail on the sampling and recruitment strategy can be found in the study protocol paper.²⁹

For Wave 2 data collection in 2015, twenty survey teams (one nurse and three interviewers per team) simultaneously collected data and samples from respondents across all provinces in the country over a 5-month period. Respondents who were recruited to provide urine collections (n=1200) were sampled from among the first households visited within each EA, as a means to simplify logistics and reduce sample transit time to the central Durban laboratory.

Inclusion criteria for urine collection were: respondent must be part of the WHO-SAGE cohort, with no indication of urinary incontinence or other condition that could impede 24-hour urine collection; and if female, not menstruating, pregnant or breast feeding on the day of collection.

Study measures

All survey teams were trained with support from WHO Geneva. As part of the larger survey, anthropometry, household and individual questionnaires, blood sampling, BP and physical function tests were completed as described previously in SAGE Wave 1.²⁸ Interviewers spoke the respondents’ home languages with consent forms available in the most widely spoken languages for each area. All respondents gave free and informed consent prior to taking part. The study complied with ethical principles³⁰ and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the WHO Ethics Review Committee (RPC149), and North-West University and University of Witwatersrand Research Ethics Committees in South Africa.

Urine collection

The protocol used for collection of 24-hour urine samples followed the WHO/Pan American Health Organization guidelines.³¹ Respondents were requested to collect all urine produced for 24 hours, excluding the first pass urine on day 1, but including the first urine of the following morning (day 2) in a 5 L plastic container containing 1 g thymol as preservative in South Africa. The spot sample was collected without preservative from the second urine passed on day 1 (marking the start of the 24-hour collection) and decanted into three 15 mL Porvair tubes (Porvair Sciences, Leatherhead, UK) then kept in a cool box powered by the fieldwork vehicles. The next morning, the 24-hour sample volumes were recorded and aliquots (4× Porvair tubes) generated with all samples then shipped to the laboratory, maintaining the cold chain. Thymol, a crystalline natural derivative of the thyme plant, was used as a preservative. Thymol has been shown to prevent changes in urinary creatinine, sodium and potassium concentrations for up to 5 days.³² Incomplete 24-hour urine collections were assumed if: total volume ≤300 mL; or creatinine excretion ≤4 mmol/day (women) or ≤6 mmol/day (men).³³

Urine analysis

Sodium was determined using the indirect ion selective electrode method and creatinine analysed using the standardised urinary Jaffe kinetic method (Beckman Coulter Synchron DXC600/800 System). The WHO population target for salt intake is 5 g salt (NaCl) per day, equivalent to urinary sodium excretion of 1950 mg (or 85 mmol)/24 hours. Sodium (mmol/L) in the 24-hour urine sample was converted to salt (g/day) using the formula: Na mmol/L * 24 hours volume (L) * 23.1 (molecular weight of sodium)/390 (390 mg sodium per 1 g sodium chloride (salt)). With the exception of iodine, all South African samples were analysed at a single laboratory in Durban, South Africa (Global Clinical and Viral Laboratories). Urine samples for iodine analysis were stored at −20° C and batch analysed using the Sandell-Kolthoff method with ammonium persulfate digestion and microplate reading³⁴ at the North-West University Centre of Excellence for Nutrition. The laboratory participates successfully in the Program to Ensure the Quality of Urinary Iodine Procedures (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA).³⁵ To convert urinary excretion values to estimated daily iodine intake (μg/day), urinary iodine excretion (UIE; μg/24 hours) values were divided by 0.92, based on the assumption that approximately 92% of dietary iodine is excreted in urine. A median of <100 µg iodine/L indicates population-level deficiency (there are no reference ranges for individuals).³⁶

Data capture, analysis and statistical power

All data were captured using an electronic data capture system and uploaded to a secure central server for data cleaning and analysis. The nested cohort sample size for the primary outcome measure of 24-hour urine sodium was calculated as previously described.²⁹ Allowing for error in 24-hour sample collection (incomplete or missing samples) in this complex field study, a target subsample size of 1200 was randomly selected from the main SAGE Wave 2 cohort, and those with incomplete or missing samples excluded from the analysis. The sample size used for this analysis was deemed adequate based on recommendations of WHO (2007) that states a sample size between 600 and 900 is sufficient to have a reasonable CI around the coverage estimate for UIC.² More recently, Karmisholt et al recommend that 400 urine samples are required to determine the MUIC of a group with 5% precision.³⁷

Both spot UIC and 24-hour UIE analyses were compared across three categories of 24-hour urinary Na values, equivalent to salt intakes of <5g/day, 5–9g/day and >9 g/day. Normality of data was assessed by visual inspection of histograms and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. All non-parametric data were reported as median and IQR (25th, 75th percentiles) and continuous variables compared using independent samples Mann-Whitney U test or independent samples Kruskal-Wallis test. Categorical variables were compared across groups using Pearson’s Χ²test and Fisher’s exact test. Data were also analysed according to urinary Na excretion values and by iodine category (suboptimal: UIC<100 μg/L; iodine replete: 100–299 μg/L; and excessive: >300 μg/L). To assess the association between salt intake, body size, UIC and UIE, Spearman’s rank order and partial correlations were conducted.

Results

Complete urinary Na and iodine data were available in n=874 participants. Sociodemographic characteristics and health indicators of the subsample are compared with the total SAGE Wave 2 cohort (n=2887) in table 1 which included participants aged between 18 and 102 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 13.5–69.9. The subsample had a higher proportion of women and more black/coloured respondents than the main cohort, which may explain differences in smoking, education and BP.

Table 1.

Characteristics of the main (SAGE South Africa Wave 2, 2015) and subsample study cohort

	Main SAGE cohort n=2887		Subsample* n=875		P value
	Median	IQR	Median	IQR
Female, n (%)	1939	67	671	77	<0.001
Age (years)	57	46, 69	55	44, 67	0.468
Aged over 50 years, n (%)	1979	69	567	65	0.171
Ethnicity, n (%)
Black	1988	69	410	74	<0.001
Coloured, mixed race	465	16	96	17
Indian	306	11	41	7
White	128	4	11	2
Rural, n (%)	792	28	163	29	0.418
Education (years)	10	7, 13	9	6, 12	0.028
Never been to school, n (%)	495	18	109	20	0.180
Never had paid employment, n (%)	1101	55	238	56	0.403
BMI (kg/m2)	28.8	23.9, 33.7	29.1	24.0, 34.2	0.540
Waist-to-height ratio	0.59	0.52, 0.67	0.58	0.50, 0.66	0.070
Never used alcohol, n (%)	1576	80	353	83	0.052
Never used tobacco, n (%)	1635	83	367	86	0.023
Systolic BP (mm Hg)	131	118, 144	128	116, 141	0.073
Diastolic BP (mm Hg)	81	73, 89	79	71, 87	0.029
Hypertension, n (%)	1233	45	232	43	0.239
Diabetes, n (%)	248	13	46	11	0.355

*Subsample: all respondents with spot UIC, valid 24-hour urine, sex and age recorded. Some variables may contain missing data as indicated by percentages. Data shown as median and IQR (25th, 75th percentiles) unless otherwise indicated. Hypertensive by measured BP≥140 and/or 90 mm Hg or previous diagnosis. Education, tobacco/alcohol use, ethnicity, employment and diabetes prevalence by self-report. Continuous variables compared using independent samples Mann-Whitney U test, categorical variables compared using Pearson’s χ²test and Fisher’s exact test.

BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; SAGE, Study on global AGEing and adult health.

In the subsample that provided urine collections, median 24-hour urine volume was 1385 (IQR 900, 2278) mL/day, with a range from 500 to 4900 mL/day. Median urinary creatinine excretion was 1097 (IQR 790, 1682) mg/24 hours, with a range from 460 to 6441 mg/24 hours. Median 24-hour Na excretion (n=874) was equivalent to a median salt intake of 6.3 g/day (range 1–43 g/day); 35% had values within the desirable range (<5 g salt/day), 37% had high values (5–9 g salt/day) and 28% had very high values (>9 g salt/day). We have previously reported that median salt intakes are higher in younger than older (50+ years) adults in this cohort (8.6 g/day vs 6.1 g/day; p<0.001), and in urban compared with rural dwellers (7.0 g/day vs 6.0 g/day; p=0.033)³⁸ but further analysis of Na versus iodine excretion, by demographic breakdown, is outside the scope of the current analysis. No significant difference in median UIE was found according to age category (18–49 years; 50+ years) or sex; however, median UIE was significantly higher in urban compared with rural dwellers (128 (IQR 147) vs 115 (IQR 119); p=0.041). No demographic differences were found for MUIC. In the total sample, MUIC (n=875) was 130 µg/L (IQR=58–202), indicating iodine sufficiency (≥100 µg/L), while median 24-hour UIE (n=866) was 117 μg/day (IQR 138).

Both UIC and 24-hour iodine excretion differed across salt intake categories and were positively correlated with 24-hour salt intake, estimated from urinary Na excretion (r=0.166 and 0.552; both p<0.001) (table 2). In the lowest salt category of <5 g/day, MUIC indicated borderline deficiency of 102 µg/L (table 3). According to median 24-hour UIE values, the group of participants with a salt intake of <5 g/day is not meeting their dietary Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of 95 µg/day (Institute of Medicine 2003),³⁹ with 58.4% having intakes below this value (table 3). Even in those with salt intakes in the moderately raised category of 5–9 g/day, a considerable proportion (34.7%) had intakes below the EAR. Responses to questions on salt behaviours did not differ between participants across MUIC categories (data not shown), nor according to UIE (figure 1).

Table 2.

Spearman’s rank-order and partial correlations between urinary iodine concentration, estimated salt intake and body size, SAGE South Africa Wave 2 (2015)

		All n=456	Men n=110	Women n=346
Correlations with spot UIC (µg/L)
Salt intake (g/day)	r	0.166***	0.164	0.153**
	p	0.000	0.088	0.004
24-hour iodine (µg/day)	r	0.423***	0.483***	0.392***
	p	0.000	0.000	0.000
BMI (kg/m2)	r	0.036	0.001	0.096
	p	0.448	0.988	0.076
Weight (kg)	r	0.043	0.035	0.056
	p	0.365	0.716	0.299
Waist circumference (cm)	r	0.001	0.027	0.008
	p	0.991	0.784	0.878
Hip circumference (cm)	r	0.040	0.213*	0.008
	p	0.389	0.026	0.883
Correlations with 24-hour UIE (µg/day)
Salt intake (g/day)	r	0.552***	0.504***	0.561***
	p	0.000	0.000	0.000
BMI (kg/m2)	r	0.092	0.030	0.168**
	p	0.051	0.758	0.002
Weight (kg)	r	0.130**	−0.023	0.193***
	p	0.005	0.814	0.000
Waist circumference (cm)	r	0.032	−0.011	0.069
	p	0.491	0.911	0.200
Hip circumference (cm)	r	0.052	0.056	0.094
	p	0.269	0.563	0.080

Correlations between iodine and body size controlled for salt intake.

Correlation is significant at the *p<0.05 level; **p<0.01 level; or ***p<0.001 level.

BMI, body mass index; SAGE, Study on global AGEing and adult health; UIC, spot urinary iodine concentration; UIE, 24-hour urinary iodine excretion.

Table 3.

Urinary iodine, estimated iodine intake and sodium excretion values by salt intake equivalent categories

	24-hour urinary sodium excretion
	All n=874*		Salt <5 g/day n=307		Salt 5–9 g/day n=322		Salt >9 g/day n=245		P value
	Median	IQR	Median	IQR	Median	IQR	Median	IQR
Sodium (mg/day)	2471	1434, 3506	1393	1068, 1719	2638	2219, 3057	4799	3607, 5993	<0.001
Salt (g/day)	6.3	3.7, 9.0	3.6	2.8, 4.5	6.8	5.7, 7.9	12.3	9.3, 15.4	<0.001
UIC (µg/L)	130	58, 202	102	32, 172	131	56, 206	149	78, 220	<0.001
24-hour UIE (µg/day)	117	48, 186	74	37, 111	119	57, 181	195	117, 273	<0.001
Estimated iodine intake (µg/day)†	127	52, 202	80	40, 120	130	63, 197	212	127, 297	<0.001
% with daily iodine intake below EAR for iodine (95 µg/day)	37.1		58.4		34.7		13.5

*One individual in subsample with missing 24-hour sodium analysis. Data shown as median and IQR (25th, 75th percentiles). Continuous variables compared using independent samples Kruskal-Wallis test.

†Daily iodine intake assumed as 24-hour UIE (µg/day)/0.92 to account for bioavailability.

EAR, Estimated Average Requirement; UIC, spot urinary iodine concentration; UIE, 24-hour urinary iodine excretion.

Figure 1.

Self-reported salt knowledge, attitudes and behaviour by 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UIE; n=539).

Discussion

Our study found that in a sample of South African adults, those with a salt intake within the WHO recommended range of less than 5 g/day had suboptimal iodine intakes, whereas those with higher salt intakes were shown to have adequate intakes, using 24-hour UIE as a biomarker of intake. Thus, there is a risk that sodium reduction strategies may impact adversely on iodine intakes and result in populations being at risk of inadequate iodine intakes unless fortificant levels of iodine in salt are revised accordingly.

These data were collected immediately prior to introduction of South Africa’s mandatory salt reduction legislation, which requires food manufacturers to comply with maximum salt targets across a wide range of processed foods. The impact of the salt reduction policy on iodised salt intake is unknown. South Africa has had a well-functioning table salt iodisation programme since 2005, but salt used in food processing is exempt from mandatory iodisation. Despite iodised salt not being required by law to be used as an ingredient in the manufacturing of processed foods, a study⁴⁰ that investigated the iodine content of salt used in bread, margarine and salty snack flavourings in 2002 provided surprising results. Even though 11 of the 12 manufacturers surveyed at that time reported that they used non-iodised salt in their processed foods, substantial amounts of iodine were found in the salt used by a third of these manufacturers’ products, with a mean content of 39–69 ppm, and these were the items that were mostly distributed countrywide. An appreciable percentage of the food companies used iodised salt unknowingly in the manufacturing of frequently consumed processed foods, and this may have had a considerable impact on the daily iodine intake of consumers. To our knowledge, there is no updated information on the use of iodised salt in food processing by food manufacturers. Thus, it is feasible that the salt reduction legislation that targets salt reduction in processed foods may also impact on contribution of total dietary iodine intake.

As well as changes to the food supply, nutrition education activities undertaken by the Department of Health and non-governmental organisations in South Africa aim to change consumer behaviour related to table salt use.^{41 42} The timing of the WHO-SAGE Salt & Tobacco substudy in South Africa was planned to provide a baseline population salt intake³⁸ 1 year before mandatory salt legislation, in order for comparison in the same cohort 1 year after introduction of the legislation²⁹ in SAGE Wave 3. The data reported in this paper relate to the presalt reduction legislation baseline timepoint. Inclusion of iodine analyses in Wave 3 in 2018 will further allow evaluation of the compatibility of iodine fortification and salt reduction policies.

Concerted efforts are being made in many countries to lower salt consumption.¹⁸ Because the primary food vehicle for iodine fortification is salt, there is concern that decreasing salt consumption will increase the risk of iodine deficiency. Our study findings indicate that this is a potential public health problem. Our findings are in contrast to those reported from a sample of adult men and women surveyed in Cape Town in 2004, when UIC did not differ across categories of salt intake.²¹ Reasons for this are unclear but may reflect a simultaneous increased consumption of salt provided from non-iodised sources in processed foods, accompanied by a reduction in discretionary iodised salt intake over the past decade. However, data are not available to further postulate in this regard.

The South African strategic plan to reduce cardiovascular disease includes the target to reduce the population intake of salt to less than 5 g/day. At present, the salt intake is higher than this level, with older reports from the early 2000s estimating that 40% salt was provided from discretionary salt intake.²² The salt intake estimations in the current study include both added (discretionary) and non-discretionary salt intakes but the lack of data on dietary intakes of the participants prevents further investigation of the source of the salt.

We hypothesise that food manufacturers may have already reduced salt content in processed foods at the time of the study (2015), and that some of these products may have been produced with iodised salt. If this is the case, this would result in lowered iodine intake at the same time as lowered salt intake, as would any reduction in discretionary salt use. Considering the latter, there have been many accompanying health education strategies that target salt reduction behaviours, alongside the salt legislation in processed foods.⁴² In 2015, a mass media campaign (Saltwatch) using television, radio advertisement and other platforms for information dissemination was undertaken to increase public awareness related to the association between a high salt intake, BP and cardiovascular disease in South Africa. The campaign, conducted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of South Africa with funding from the Department of Health, focused on the need to reduce discretionary salt intake. Evaluation of the programme undertaken in 550 black women, aged 18–55 years in three provinces, identified that there was an increase in most of the indicators of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour change towards considering and initiating reduced salt consumption following the campaign.⁴¹ Significant increases were found for knowledge items related to high salt intake and its health outcomes. Participants also reported that they added less salt while cooking and at the table. In the current study, responses to questions on salt behaviours did not differ between participants across MUIC categories, nor according to 24-hour UIE. This could mean that the questions are not sufficiently sensitive to discern between salt intake behaviours, or that the contribution of discretionary salt to total iodine intake is influenced by other food sources of iodised salt.

A strength of the current study was use of the gold standard method for assessment of salt intake, namely 24-hour urinary collections. Limitations relate to the high number of respondents with missing or incomplete urine samples. The difficulty in obtaining complete 24-hour urine samples is well known, and the comparison between the main study cohort and those providing complete samples shows that men, and those with higher education less frequently provided complete 24-hour urine. This may also reflect the nature of the survey as fieldworkers visited the respondent’s homes and those who were away with work were less likely to have taken part or would have potentially had more difficulty with the urine collection, creating a selection bias in the data towards the population with lower employment levels. Future research may consider workplace-based data collection. An assumption was made regarding cut-off values for completeness of 24-hour urine collection where urinary volume <300 mL/day or creatinine excretion ≤4 mmol/day (women) or ≤6 mmol/day (men)³³ were the criteria used for exclusion purposes. In populations with low protein intakes, daily creatinine excretion is more variable than in well-nourished populations, and often lower than 1 g (8.84 mmol)/day.⁴³ A limitation of the study is that neither dietary protein intake nor lean body mass was assessed which makes it difficult to account for these two confounding variables when deciding on how to interpret low urinary creatinine concentrations. It is possible that the use of higher creatinine excretion cut-off reference values as a measure of completeness of urine collection may have resulted in a somewhat lower number of subjects considered to be at risk of inadequate iodine nutrition, as well as a higher estimated salt intake.

A further limitation is the lack of dietary data on sources of iodine provided by foods other than iodised salt. Iodine-rich dietary sources include fish and seafood, and dairy products, and it is possible that some of these foods may also be high in salt, as in the case of salted dried fish commonly consumed by the coloured population (known as ‘bokkems’). However, generally these foods are not major contributors to sodium in the South African diet.²² Interestingly, in women, both UIC and UIE correlated positively with BMI, independently of salt intake. Looking at changes in food consumption patterns in South Africa over time, it seems that there is an increase in processed foods and in other foods that may contribute to iodine intake independently of iodised salt such as fish, eggs, seafood and dairy foods.⁴⁴ The contribution of food sources, other than iodised salt, to total iodine intake warrants further investigation in the context of evaluating the mandatory salt iodisation programme in South Africa. Furthermore, this study presents limited data for women of childbearing age and no data for children. Further work is needed to determine if there is an impact of the sodium reduction legislation in these particularly iodine-sensitive groups.

Conclusion

This study highlights the need to closely monitor the iodine status of populations as they undergo population-level reductions in salt intake, in countries where mandatory salt iodisation is implemented. Even at salt intake levels currently above the WHO target of 5 g/day, there was a considerable proportion with iodine intakes below the EAR. This indicates there may be a need to increase the level of iodine in fortified table salt. Alternatively, compulsory iodisation of salt used in the production of some staple foods such as bread may be considered. In a country where some sectors of the population may be exposed to excessive iodine intakes, this strategy would require careful dietary modelling before being pursued. It is recommended that surveys that measure urinary Na excretion also simultaneously measure UIC and determine the iodine content in table salt collected from households.