Background: World health organization recommends approximately a one to one ratio of sodium to potassium intake. However, most populations around the world consume high amount of sodium and low amount of potassium leading to high sodium to potassium ratio, which puts the population at risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In Ethiopia, population potassium intake and body sodium to potassium ratio was unknown.

Objective: To evaluate potassium and sodium intake among adult population of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2018.

Method: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 284 individuals aged 20 years and above residing in Addis Ababa. Participants’ socio-demographic data were collected. Repeated multiple pass 24-hour dietary recall and random urine were collected to estimate sodium and potassium intake. Nutrient content of diet was calculated using software package Nutrisurvey. Usual intake from the diet recall was determined using national cancer institute (NCI) method by adjusting for sex, age, day of consumption and sickness (decreased appetite). Cobas 6000(501) analyser was used for urine electrolyte analysis. Estimated 24 hour sodium and potassium excretion was calculated from sample urine using INTERSALT and Tanaka formula by adjusting for individual’s sex, age, creatinin, height, weight and body mass index. Prevalence of inadequate potassium intake, prevalence of excess sodium intake and prevalence of excess sodium to potassium ratio were compared with recommended values using SAS 9.3 and STATA14 software. Salt intake per day was estimated by multiplying sodium intake per day by 2.5.

Result: The mean intake of potassium was 1.9(SD=0.4) g/day and 1.9(SD=0.6) g/day from urine and diet evaluation respectively. The mean value of sodium estimated from urine was 3.3 (SD=0.7) g/day, which is equivalent to 8.2 (SD=1.8) g/day of salt. The mean intake of sodium estimated from diet evaluation was 3.0 (SD=0.9) g/day, which is equivalent to 7.5 (SD=2.2) g/day of salt. The prevalence of inadequate potassium intake was 100% from both dietary assessment and urine analysis. The prevalence of excess sodium intake was 98.2% and 99.7% from urine and diet evaluation respectively. The prevalence of excess sodium to potassium ratio was 90.1%, with a mean intake of 2.5(SD=1.4).

Conclusion and Recommendation: We conclude that there was high prevalence of inadequate potassium intake and excess sodium intake leading to a high prevalence of excess sodium to potassium ratio. Interventions targeting to decrease sodium intake and to increase potassium intake is needed.

Key Words: sodium, potassium, diet recall, spot urine, Ethiopia