WHO issues new guidance on sodium intake

"The World Health Organization (WHO) has for the first time recommended limits on children's daily consumption of sodium which it hoped would help in the global fight against diet-related diseases becoming chronic among all populations," Reuters reports, adding, "The guidelines vary depending on the child's size, age and energy needs, and apply to children over the age of two." The news service adds, "The WHO also somewhat revised its recommendations for adults, down to less than 2,000 mg of sodium intake per day, from the current 2,000 mg, in addition to a recommendation of at least 3,510 mg of potassium a day" (Nebehay, 1/31). "The guidelines are an important tool for public health experts and policymakers as they work in their specific country situations to address non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases," a WHO press release states (1/31).