<p>The purpose of the study was to describe hemodialysis patients self-reporting salt habits associated with cooking and food intake. Furthermore, the purpose was to investigate possible differences in inter Dialyze significant weight gain at low and high self-reported salt consumption. The study was an empirical descriptive study of comparative features and consisted of a convenience sample from two hemodialysis units in southern Norrland. Study group consisted of 37 persons who had been ongoing hemodialysis treatment and their age ranged from 42-86 years. A questionnaire was used in two parts and both parts contained 15 foods. The first part was stated how often the food consumed in a week on the basis of six possible answers. In the second set of salt to the cooking in and / or eating for the food on the basis of four possible answers. Information on age, gender and type of accommodation indicated in the survey and data on weight before and after dialysis was collected from the medical record. The results showed that the study group predominantly consumed foods that have a moderate natural salt content. Half of the study group ate soft bakery bread baked daily and only 16 people at homemade bread less than once a week. Participants put extra salt to all eligible food and salted also on the green salat. There was no difference in inter Dialyze weight gain at the high and low self-reported salt consumption.</p>

The purpose of the study was to describe hemodialysis patients self-reporting salt habits associated with cooking and food intake. Furthermore, the purpose was to investigate possible differences in inter Dialyze significant weight gain at low and high self-reported salt consumption. The study was an empirical descriptive study of comparative features and consisted of a convenience sample from two hemodialysis units in southern Norrland. Study group consisted of 37 persons who had been ongoing hemodialysis treatment and their age ranged from 42-86 years. A questionnaire was used in two parts and both parts contained 15 foods. The first part was stated how often the food consumed in a week on the basis of six possible answers. In the second set of salt to the cooking in and / or eating for the food on the basis of four possible answers. Information on age, gender and type of accommodation indicated in the survey and data on weight before and after dialysis was collected from the medical record. The results showed that the study group predominantly consumed foods that have a moderate natural salt content. Half of the study group ate soft bakery bread baked daily and only 16 people at homemade bread less than once a week. Participants put extra salt to all eligible food and salted also on the green salat. There was no difference in inter Dialyze weight gain at the high and low self-reported salt consumption.

abstract: Nutrition instruction has become more accessible; it is no longer relegated to the doctor’s office, dietitian briefing, outpatient clinic, or hospital. Now it is available in people’s hands, pockets, and purses via their smartphone. Since nutrition instruction has become more accessible, health professionals and members of the general public are increasingly interested in using smartphone apps to assist with health-related dietary changes. With more and more of the population required to follow certain dietary recommendations and/or monitor specific nutrient intake, commercially available apps may be a useful and cost-effective resource for the public. The purpose of this four-week intervention was to determine if the popular calorie counter app, MyFitnessPal, can be used to reduce sodium intake to ≤ 2,300 mg/day compared to the traditional paper-and-pencil method. This four-week randomized parallel trial enrolled 30 generally healthy adults who were 18 to 80 years of age. Participants were randomly assigned to the MyFitnessPal (“APP”) group or to the paper (“PAP”) group and required to meet three times with the researcher for screening, baseline (start), and completion of the study. There was a significant difference in the mean urinary sodium change between the APP group and the PAP group from the start of the intervention to the completion (-24.0±32.6 and 8.5±41.9 mmol/g creatinine respectively, p = 0.027). Other positive trends that resulted from the intervention included a decline in dietary sodium in both groups and a higher adherence in the APP group compared to the PAP group regarding recording method. The MyFitnessPal app proved to be a useful tool in reducing and/or monitoring sodium intake. Thus, this trial reinforces the potential of this app to be used for monitoring other nutrients, but further research needs to be conducted. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2016

The purpose of this study was to explore patients' perception and knowledge regarding hypertension and hypertensive guidelines on sodium intake and lifestyle modifications in a work environment in the Republic of Panama. Hypertension is important not only because of its high prevalence but also because it is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In Panama the prevalence of hypertension is about 38.7% and uncontrolled hypertension is almost 50%.This number may translate into complications for the general population. For instance 52.8% of the population has had an ischemic disease and death by ischemic disease climbed from third place to second place from 2009 to 2010. This qualitative study used an exploratory approach and semi-structured in-depth interviews to answer the research questions. A purposive sample included woman with a hypertension diagnosis, between 30 to 59 years of age, and working in a single organization. A constant comparative analysis was used to search for themes grounded in the data. Emerging themes illustrated that participants perspectives of hypertension had become their drives towards the management of their disease and throughout their daily lives constant different factors played the role of motivating or discouraging their non-pharmacological treatment. Participants had also provided a list of barriers and coping strategies which were redundant on the need of practical knowledge, obtainable goals and policy changes of their environment in order for them to keep their disease management. Further research at a population level may aid to generalize this finding and to provide a better understanding of patients' compliance to non-pharmacological treatment.

Introdução: As diretrizes atuais recomendam restrições no sódio dietético para o tratamento de insuficiência cardíaca agudamente descompensada (ICAD), contudo sem embasamento em evidências científicas sólidas. Estudos recentes sugerem que a dieta normossódica é comparável à dieta hipossódica no tocante à resolução da congestão dos pacientes com ICAD. Levanta-se a hipótese de que o emprego de dieta não restrita em sódio pode adicionalmente preservar os níveis de natremia no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de dois níveis de ingestão dietética de sódio em pacientes hospitalizados para o tratamento de ICAD. Casuística e Métodos: Investigamos prospectivamente 44 pacientes internados com ICAD, randomizados em 2 grupos: grupo DH (dieta hipossódica): com dieta restrita em sódio, com 3 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 59,5±11,9 anos, 50% masculinos, FEVE = 30,0±13,6%); e grupo DN (dieta normossódica): com dieta sem restrição de sódio, com 7 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 56,4±10,3 anos; 68,2% masculinos; FEVE = 27,8±11,7%), ambos submetidos à restrição hídrica de 1.000 ml/dia. No tempo basal e no 7° dia de intervenção ou final, caso a pesquisa fosse interrompida antes dos sete dias de intervenção, avaliamos o NT-proBNP sérico, aplicamos uma escala analógica visual de dispneia e outra de bem-estar geral. Diariamente coletamos dados de peso corpóreo, sódio e potássio séricos, creatinina e ureia séricas (função renal), balanço hídrico (BH), dose diária e acumulada de diuréticos e demais medicações para o tratamento de ICAD, pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), diastólica (PAD) e média (PAM), e frequência cardíaca (FC). Resultados: Os grupos DH e DN apresentaram, respectivamente: graus semelhantes de diminuição percentual de peso corpóreo (3,9±3,0% vs 3,0±3,4%, p = 0,39), semelhantes doses médias diárias de furosemida (76,9±32,3 mg vs 67,1±20,7 mg, p = 0,5), redução comparável dos níveis de NTproBNP (15,2±40,4% vs 22,8±55,5%, p = 0,6), semelhantes BH acumulados (-3614,8±2809,2 ml vs -2801,5±1962,5 ml, p = 0,3) e melhora dos níveis de escalas visuais de dispneia (3,4±2,1 e 3,0±1,9, p = 0,6) e bem-estar geral (2,7±2,1 e 2,6±2,9, p = 0,9). No 7° dia de intervenção o grupo DH apresentou menores níveis de sódio sérico (135,4±3,5 mmol/L) em comparação ao grupo DN (137,5±1,9 mmol/L; p = 0,05). Houve 4 casos de hiponatremia no 7° dia de intervenção, todos pertencentes ao grupo DH(25%). O grupo DN exibiu valores mais preservados de PAM durante a internação (79,4±2,4 mmHg) quando comparados ao grupo DH (75,5±3,0 mmHg), p = 0,03 e de FC, 73,2±1,6 bpm vs 75,5±2,1 bpm, respectivamente, p = 0,02. A função renal e o potássio sérico não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: Em pacientes com ICAD, o emprego de dieta normossódica, associou-se à melhor preservação dos níveis de sódio sérico e dos valores de pressão arterial quando comparada à dieta hipossódica. Adicionalmente, o emprego da dieta hipossódica não se associou a benefícios adicionais no tocante à redução da congestão, melhora dos sintomas e na redução da ativação neurohumoral. Esses resultados sugerem que a dieta hipossódica não deva ser usada como rotina no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. / Background: The current guidelines endorse the use of low dietary sodium intake for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, this recommendation is not based on robust scientific evidence. New researches suggest that normal sodium diet is comparable to a low sodium diet regarding the congestion resolution in patients of ADHF. We hypothesize that a normal sodium diet is associated with more preserved levels of serum sodium during the hospitalization. Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the effect of two levels of dietary sodium intake in hospitalized patients with ADHF. Methods: We investigated prospectively 44 patients hospitalized for ADHF, randomized to 2 groups: LS (low sodium diet), receiving 3 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 59.5±11.9 y.o., 50% male, LVEF = 30.0±13.6%); and NS (normal sodium diet), receiving 7 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 56.4±10.3 y.o., 68% male; LVEF = 27.8±11.7%). Both groups were submitted to a limit of fluid intake of 1000 ml/day. The primary endpoint was the serum sodium level at day 7. The NT-proBNP levels, a visual analogy scale about dyspnea and wellbeing were measured at baseline and at day 7 or ending, if the search was interrupted before the seven days of intervention. Daily monitoring included: body weight, accumulated fluid balance, daily and cumulative diuretic dose and other medications for treating ICAD, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and serum levels of sodium, potassium, ureic nitrogen and creatinine (renal function). Results: LS and NS groups presented, respectively, similar amount of accumulated fluid balance (-3614.8±2809.2 ml vs - 2801.5±1962.5 ml, p = 0.3), percent body weight reduction(3.9±3.0% vs 3.0±3.4%, p = 0.39) , cumulative furosemide dose (76.9±32.3 mg vs 67.1±20.7 mg, p = 0.5), percent reduction of NT-proBNP levels (15.2±40.4% vs 22.8±55.5%, p = 0.6), improvement in visual analogic scale of dyspnea (3.4±2.1 e 3.0±1.9, p = 0.6) and well-being (2.7±2.1 vs 2.6±2.9, p = 0.9). Additionally, at day 7, the LS group presented lower levels of serum sodium (135.4±3.5 mmol/L) in comparison to the NS (137.5±1.9 mmol/L; p = 0.05). During hospitalization, 4 cases of hyponatremia were observed in seventh day of intervention, all in the LS diet group (25%). The NS group exhibited more preserved values of mean BP (79.4±2.4 mmHg), as compared to the LS group (75.5±3.0 mmHg), p = 0.03, and HR, 73.2±1.6 bpm vs 75.5±2.1 bpm, respectively, p = 0.02. The renal function and serum potassium tests presented no significant difference between groups. Conclusions: In patients with ADHF, the use of low dietary sodium intake is not associated to additional benefits when compared to a normal sodium diet in regard to reduction of congestive manifestations, symptoms resolution and decrease of the neurohumoral activation. In addition, the normal sodium diet was associated to preservation of serum sodium and blood pressure levels. These results suggest that a low sodium diet should not be routinely used for ADHF treatment.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine, 2016 / Although it is well known that an increase in sodium intake (Na+) increases BP and is involved in the development of salt-sensitive hypertension (SS-HTN), the mechanism responsible for this increase in BP is uncertain. Further while low dietary potassium (K+) is also associated with the development of SS-HTN it is uncertain to what extent dietary potassium (K+) affects Na+-induced increases in BP. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Na+-induced increases in BP and target organ changes are altered by reductions in K+ intake. Four-month-old male Sprague-Dawley (SO) rats were randomly assigned to three dietary intervention groups for six weeks: a normal Na+ (0.3%), normal K+ (1.6%) group (CON, n=12), a high Na+ (6%), normal K+ (1.6%) group (NK+-HNa+, n=12) and a high Na+ (6%), low K+ (0.01%) group (LK+-HNa+, n=12). Tail-cuff BP, body weight, food and water intake were measured weekly. At termination, urine parameters, right kidney weight as well as left ventricular dimensions and function were measured. Vascular reactivity of the mesenteric and renal arteries was also assessed using a wire-myograph. During the diet intervention, water intake was significantly higher in the NK+-HNa+ and LK+-HNa+ groups compared to the CON group (P<0.0001). Although food intake was significantly lower in the NK+-HNa+ and LK+-HNa+ groups compared to the CON group during the first week (P=0.03 and P=0.05 respectively), no significant differences in body weight were observed between the groups (P>0.05). The urinary Na+/K+ ratio was higher in the LK+ HNa+ compared to the CON and NK+ -HNa+ groups (P<0.001). Following the 6 week dietary intervention, the systolic BP was significantly higher in the NK+-HNa+ and the LK+-HNa+ groups compared to the CON group (P=0.05 and P=0.04 respectively). The diastolic BP was significantly higher in the NK+-HNa+ and LK+-HNa+ groups compared to the CON group (P=O.05 and P=O.02, respectively). The increase in BP was not different between the NK+-HNa+ and LK+-HNa+ groups (P>O.05). In the mesenteric arteries, there was a significant increase in vascular responsiveness to phenylephrine in the NK+-HNa+ group compared to the CON group (P=O.02). However the vascular responsiveness to phenylephrine in the mesenteric arteries was similar between the NK+-HNa+ and LK+-HNa+ groups (P=O.82). No significant differences in vascular reactivity were observed in the renal arteries between the three groups. No significant differences were observed in the left ventricular dimensions and function between the different diet groups (P>O.05). In conclusion, 6 weeks of high Na+ intake increases BP, induces greater phenylephrine-induced contractions in mesenteric arteries but does not affect heart dimensions and function. The greater phenylephrine-induced contractions with a high Na+ intake may be responsible for the increase in BP. However a reduction in dietary K+ intake does not have any effect on the high Na+-induced changes in BP or mesenteric artery reactivity. / AC2016

High dietary sodium intake is hypothesized to increase food intake (FI), fluid intake and glycemic response. Two short-term randomized repeated-measures studies measured the effects of acute sodium intake on FI, water intake (WI), subjective appetite (SA), thirst, and blood glucose (BG) in young men. Sodium additions were 740 and 1480 mg to a solid food (beans) in Experiment 1; and 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg to a beverage (tomato juice) in Experiment 2. FI and WI were measured at ad libitum pizza meals 120 and 30 min later, respectively. SA, thirst and BG were measured at intervals before and after pizza. Compared with controls, treatments with added-sodium had no effect on dependent measures. In conclusion, acute intake of sodium in a solid or liquid matrix does not increase subjective ratings of appetite or thirst, ad libitum food or water intakes, or blood glucose in healthy young adults.

High dietary sodium intake is hypothesized to increase food intake (FI), fluid intake and glycemic response. Two short-term randomized repeated-measures studies measured the effects of acute sodium intake on FI, water intake (WI), subjective appetite (SA), thirst, and blood glucose (BG) in young men. Sodium additions were 740 and 1480 mg to a solid food (beans) in Experiment 1; and 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg to a beverage (tomato juice) in Experiment 2. FI and WI were measured at ad libitum pizza meals 120 and 30 min later, respectively. SA, thirst and BG were measured at intervals before and after pizza. Compared with controls, treatments with added-sodium had no effect on dependent measures. In conclusion, acute intake of sodium in a solid or liquid matrix does not increase subjective ratings of appetite or thirst, ad libitum food or water intakes, or blood glucose in healthy young adults.

Introdução: As diretrizes atuais recomendam restrições no sódio dietético para o tratamento de insuficiência cardíaca agudamente descompensada (ICAD), contudo sem embasamento em evidências científicas sólidas. Estudos recentes sugerem que a dieta normossódica é comparável à dieta hipossódica no tocante à resolução da congestão dos pacientes com ICAD. Levanta-se a hipótese de que o emprego de dieta não restrita em sódio pode adicionalmente preservar os níveis de natremia no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de dois níveis de ingestão dietética de sódio em pacientes hospitalizados para o tratamento de ICAD. Casuística e Métodos: Investigamos prospectivamente 44 pacientes internados com ICAD, randomizados em 2 grupos: grupo DH (dieta hipossódica): com dieta restrita em sódio, com 3 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 59,5±11,9 anos, 50% masculinos, FEVE = 30,0±13,6%); e grupo DN (dieta normossódica): com dieta sem restrição de sódio, com 7 g de cloreto de sódio por dia (n = 22; 56,4±10,3 anos; 68,2% masculinos; FEVE = 27,8±11,7%), ambos submetidos à restrição hídrica de 1.000 ml/dia. No tempo basal e no 7° dia de intervenção ou final, caso a pesquisa fosse interrompida antes dos sete dias de intervenção, avaliamos o NT-proBNP sérico, aplicamos uma escala analógica visual de dispneia e outra de bem-estar geral. Diariamente coletamos dados de peso corpóreo, sódio e potássio séricos, creatinina e ureia séricas (função renal), balanço hídrico (BH), dose diária e acumulada de diuréticos e demais medicações para o tratamento de ICAD, pressão arterial sistólica (PAS), diastólica (PAD) e média (PAM), e frequência cardíaca (FC). Resultados: Os grupos DH e DN apresentaram, respectivamente: graus semelhantes de diminuição percentual de peso corpóreo (3,9±3,0% vs 3,0±3,4%, p = 0,39), semelhantes doses médias diárias de furosemida (76,9±32,3 mg vs 67,1±20,7 mg, p = 0,5), redução comparável dos níveis de NTproBNP (15,2±40,4% vs 22,8±55,5%, p = 0,6), semelhantes BH acumulados (-3614,8±2809,2 ml vs -2801,5±1962,5 ml, p = 0,3) e melhora dos níveis de escalas visuais de dispneia (3,4±2,1 e 3,0±1,9, p = 0,6) e bem-estar geral (2,7±2,1 e 2,6±2,9, p = 0,9). No 7° dia de intervenção o grupo DH apresentou menores níveis de sódio sérico (135,4±3,5 mmol/L) em comparação ao grupo DN (137,5±1,9 mmol/L; p = 0,05). Houve 4 casos de hiponatremia no 7° dia de intervenção, todos pertencentes ao grupo DH(25%). O grupo DN exibiu valores mais preservados de PAM durante a internação (79,4±2,4 mmHg) quando comparados ao grupo DH (75,5±3,0 mmHg), p = 0,03 e de FC, 73,2±1,6 bpm vs 75,5±2,1 bpm, respectivamente, p = 0,02. A função renal e o potássio sérico não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os grupos. Conclusão: Em pacientes com ICAD, o emprego de dieta normossódica, associou-se à melhor preservação dos níveis de sódio sérico e dos valores de pressão arterial quando comparada à dieta hipossódica. Adicionalmente, o emprego da dieta hipossódica não se associou a benefícios adicionais no tocante à redução da congestão, melhora dos sintomas e na redução da ativação neurohumoral. Esses resultados sugerem que a dieta hipossódica não deva ser usada como rotina no tratamento dos pacientes com ICAD. / Background: The current guidelines endorse the use of low dietary sodium intake for the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). However, this recommendation is not based on robust scientific evidence. New researches suggest that normal sodium diet is comparable to a low sodium diet regarding the congestion resolution in patients of ADHF. We hypothesize that a normal sodium diet is associated with more preserved levels of serum sodium during the hospitalization. Purpose: This study aimed at assessing the effect of two levels of dietary sodium intake in hospitalized patients with ADHF. Methods: We investigated prospectively 44 patients hospitalized for ADHF, randomized to 2 groups: LS (low sodium diet), receiving 3 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 59.5±11.9 y.o., 50% male, LVEF = 30.0±13.6%); and NS (normal sodium diet), receiving 7 g/day of dietary sodium chloride (n = 22, 56.4±10.3 y.o., 68% male; LVEF = 27.8±11.7%). Both groups were submitted to a limit of fluid intake of 1000 ml/day. The primary endpoint was the serum sodium level at day 7. The NT-proBNP levels, a visual analogy scale about dyspnea and wellbeing were measured at baseline and at day 7 or ending, if the search was interrupted before the seven days of intervention. Daily monitoring included: body weight, accumulated fluid balance, daily and cumulative diuretic dose and other medications for treating ICAD, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and serum levels of sodium, potassium, ureic nitrogen and creatinine (renal function). Results: LS and NS groups presented, respectively, similar amount of accumulated fluid balance (-3614.8±2809.2 ml vs - 2801.5±1962.5 ml, p = 0.3), percent body weight reduction(3.9±3.0% vs 3.0±3.4%, p = 0.39) , cumulative furosemide dose (76.9±32.3 mg vs 67.1±20.7 mg, p = 0.5), percent reduction of NT-proBNP levels (15.2±40.4% vs 22.8±55.5%, p = 0.6), improvement in visual analogic scale of dyspnea (3.4±2.1 e 3.0±1.9, p = 0.6) and well-being (2.7±2.1 vs 2.6±2.9, p = 0.9). Additionally, at day 7, the LS group presented lower levels of serum sodium (135.4±3.5 mmol/L) in comparison to the NS (137.5±1.9 mmol/L; p = 0.05). During hospitalization, 4 cases of hyponatremia were observed in seventh day of intervention, all in the LS diet group (25%). The NS group exhibited more preserved values of mean BP (79.4±2.4 mmHg), as compared to the LS group (75.5±3.0 mmHg), p = 0.03, and HR, 73.2±1.6 bpm vs 75.5±2.1 bpm, respectively, p = 0.02. The renal function and serum potassium tests presented no significant difference between groups. Conclusions: In patients with ADHF, the use of low dietary sodium intake is not associated to additional benefits when compared to a normal sodium diet in regard to reduction of congestive manifestations, symptoms resolution and decrease of the neurohumoral activation. In addition, the normal sodium diet was associated to preservation of serum sodium and blood pressure levels. These results suggest that a low sodium diet should not be routinely used for ADHF treatment.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / A tese descreve o consumo de alimentos marcadores da qualidade da dieta no Brasil e identifica os alimentos que mais contribuem com a ingestão de açúcar e sódio no país. Foram utilizados para este fim os dados do Sistema Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL) realizado nos anos de 2007, 2008 e 2009 e os dados provenientes do primeiro Inquérito Nacional de Alimentação (INA) realizado nos anos de 2008-2009 no Brasil. Os resultados são apresentados na forma de quatro artigos. O primeiro artigo avaliou as questões marcadoras de consumo alimentar do Sistema VIGITEL e sua evolução temporal e inclui 135.249 indivíduos de 27 cidades brasileiras, entrevistados nos anos de 2007 2009. Para os demais artigos, utilizou-se os dados obtidos no INA, para descrever os alimentos mais consumidos no país segundo sexo, grupo etário, região e faixa de renda familiar per capita (artigo 2) e identificar os alimentos que mais contribuem para o consumo de sódio (artigo 3) e de açúcar na população brasileira (artigo 4). As análises do INA baseiam-se em informações do primeiro de dois dias não consecutivos de registro alimentar de 34.003 indivíduos com 10 anos ou mais de idade. Os resultados apresentados indicam que a alimentação dos brasileiros vem se caracterizando pela introdução de alimentos processados de alta densidade energética e bebidas com adição de açúcar, embora os hábitos tradicionais de alimentação, como o consumo de arroz e feijão, ainda sejam mantidos. Entre as bebidas açucaradas os refrigerantes aparecem como importante marcador da qualidade da dieta na população brasileira. Os dados do VIGITEL evidenciaram aumento no consumo deste item de 7% e dentre os itens avaliados no inquérito, foi o que mais discriminou o consumo alimentar na população. De acordo com os dados do INA, o refrigerante foi um dos itens mais consumidos pelos brasileiros, e constitui-se também como marcador do consumo de açúcar total, de adição e livre, juntamente com sucos, café e biscoitos doces. Adolescentes apresentaram o maior consumo de açúcar, comparados aos adultos e idosos e este resultado pode ser explicado pelo alto consumo de bebidas açucaradas e biscoitos doces observado nesta faixa etária. Quanto ao consumo de sódio, alimentos processados, como carne salgada, carnes processadas, queijos, biscoitos salgados, molhos e condimentos, sanduíches, pizzas e pães figuraram entre as principais fontes de sódio na dieta do brasileiro. Nossos achados reafirmam a importância de políticas de alimentação e nutrição, que estimulem o consumo de alimentos saudáveis, como frutas, verduras e grãos integrais, e a manutenção do consumo de alimentos básicos tradicionais, como o feijão. O sistema VIGITEL deve contemplar itens do consumo alimentar que possam ter impacto na redução das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. / This dissertation aimed to describe the most consumed foods in the Brazilian diet according to gender, age, regions and per capita family income and to identify the main sources of sugar and sodium in the country using data from the 2007-2009 Telephone-based Risk Factor Surveillance System for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL) and from the first Brazilian National Dietary Survey (NDS). The results are described in 4 articles. The first article aimed to evaluate markers of food intake of the telephone-based risk factor surveillance system for chronic diseases (VIGITEL) and the trend of these markers. A total of 135,249 subjects from 27 brazilian cities interviewed in the 2007 2009 surveys were evaluated. For the others articles, data from the 2008-2009 Brazilian NDS were used in order to describe the most consumed foods in the country according to gender, age, regions and per capita family income (article 1) and to identify the major food sources of dietary sodium (article 3) and free, added and total sugar in Brazil (article 4). The analysis was based on food intake data obtained on the first of two non-consecutive food records from 34,003 subjects over 10 years old. Brazilian population food intake has been characterized by the increase of the consumption of high energy-dense processed foods and sugar sweetened beverages, even though the intake of traditional foods, such as rice and beans, were still observed. Among the sugar sweetened beverages, the consumption of soft drinks can be considered as marker of quality of the diet in the Brazilian population. Data from the VIGITEL showed an increase of 7% in the consumption of soft drinks, and this item was the one that discriminates food intake the most. According to the data from the 2008-2009 Brazilian NDS, soft drinks was one of most consumed food items, and could be also considered as a marker of total, added and free sugar intake, as well as, the intake of juices, cookies and coffee. Adolescents were the age group that presented the highest intake of total, added and free sugar. This result could be attributable to the largest intake of sugar sweetened beverage and cookies in this age group. Regarding sodium intake, processed foods, such as salty preserved meats, processed meats, cheeses, crackers, oils, spreads, sauces and condiments, sandwiches, pizzas, and breads were the main sources of dietary sodium in the Brazilian population diet. Our findings reinforce the importance of food and nutrition policies that encourage the intake of healthy food, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and traditional foods, such as beans. VIGITEL system should include food items that may have impact in reducing the prevalence of chronic diseases.