AHA：摄钠过量，幼儿也患高血压

       美国心脏学会（AHA）在3月21日新奥尔良召开的2013年美国心脏学会的流行病学和预防/营养、身体活动和代谢科学会议上表明，近75%的幼儿包装食品和美味小吃对刚学步的小儿来说，含钠量偏高。

　　由于幼儿发育尚未健全，肾脏功能还未成熟，无法及时代谢血液中过量的钠，导致水钠潴留，严重可致肾功能损害，继发高血压，还有可能增加心脏的负担。摄取过量的钠会使幼儿易患高血压，长大后更偏爱咸的食品。

　　研究人员比较了1115种1-3岁婴儿和幼儿包装食品和小吃的钠含量，数据来自美国疾病控制中心（CDC）自己的数据库。婴儿食品指的是适用于1岁以内孩子的食品，而幼儿食品是指适用于1-3岁刚学走路的幼儿的食品。当一份食品含钠量超过210毫克mg，它就被认为是高钠食品。

　　研究结果显示，幼儿食品的含钠量明显高于婴儿食品。含钠量高的食物大多数为包装食品和各色小吃。有些食品的含钠量甚至高达630mg，这个数字是美国心脏学会建议每日摄取量1500mg的40%。

　　来自佐治亚州亚特兰大市的疾病控制和预防中心的研究员乔伊斯·马卢夫（Joyce Maalouf）说：“我更担心的是幼儿摄取过量钠的长期健康风险：长期摄取高钠食物，会早患上高血压，以后更偏爱咸味的食物”。

　　Maalouf强调，父母和照顾着应该认真读取婴儿和幼儿食品的营养成分标签，注意含钠量，为孩子选择健康的食品。

　　美国心脏学会建议每天摄入少于1500mg的钠量，含钠的食物包括盐和一些婴幼儿常吃的主食和辅食。

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Most pre-packaged meals, snacks for toddlers contain too much salt

NEW ORLEANS — Nearly 75 percent of commercial pre-packaged meals and savory snacks for toddlers are high in sodium, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions.

In the first study to look at the sodium content in U.S. baby and toddler foods, researchers compared the sodium content per serving of 1,115 products for babies and toddlers using data on major and private label brands compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Baby food was categorized as intended for children less than one year old, and toddler food was categorized as intended for children between the ages of one and three.

A product was defined as high in sodium if it had more than 210 mg of sodium per serving. Toddler meals had significantly higher amounts of sodium than baby meals, and the amount of sodium in some of the toddler meals was as high as 630 mg per serving – about 40 percent of the 1,500 mg daily limit recommended by the American Heart Association. The foods with the most sodium were savory snacks and meals for toddlers.

“Our concern is the possible long-term health risks of introducing high levels of sodium in a child’s diet, because high blood pressure, as well as a preference for salty foods may develop early in life. The less sodium in an infant’s or toddler’s diet, the less he or she may want it when older,” said Joyce Maalouf, M.S., M.P.H., ORISE, lead author and Fellow at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Consuming excessive amounts of sodium has been linked to the development of high blood pressure in scientific studies.

“Parents and other caregivers can read the nutrition facts labels on baby and toddler foods, to choose the healthiest options for their child,” Maalouf said.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium consumption to less than 1500 mg a day. Sodium is in regular table salt and many foods, including most prepared meals and snacks for toddlers.

Co-authors are Mary Cogswell, Dr.P.H., R.N.; Janelle Gunn, R.D., M.P.H.; and Robert Merritt, M.A. The authors have no disclosures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded the study.

来源：医学论坛报