Abstract The difficulty in understanding food labels demands their reformulation. The objective was to elaborate a proposal of nutritional labeling and to compare its understanding with current labels. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016. Socioeconomic and health data were collected and questionnaires were used to evaluate reading and comprehension of the current label (Group A) and the proposed label (Group P). Student's t test and chi-square test (p <5%) were applied. A total of 980 consumers participated at supermarkets in a Brazilian capital, with 38.2 ± 13.9 years old, predominantly women, high school, family income of 2 to 4 minimum wages, without chronic disease, and Body Mass Index of 25,6 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Reading and comprehension were satisfactory for 54.1% and 36.1% of Group A and for 93.3% and 96.9% of Group P, respectively. Among the interviewees, 36.5% reported that the current label helped and 97.5% for the proposed label. All the answers had differences when comparing the groups (p <0.05) and the comprehension of the proposed label was higher (p = 0.026). Conclusion: the understanding of the proposed label was better than that of the current label, reinforcing the need for its reformulation.

Fundamento: Alguns estudos demostraram um efeito benéfico da restrição de sódio na pressão arterial (PA) de hipertensos. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da substituição do sal comum por sal light na PA de hipertensos. Métodos: Hipertensos não controlados, de ambos os sexos, com idades entre 20 e 65 anos, e usando doses estáveis de anti-hipertensivos foram randomizados para um Grupo Intervenção (GI - recebendo sal light) e um Grupo Controle (GC - recebendo sal comum). A PA sistólica (PAS) e a PA diastólica (PAD) foram analisadas usando-se medidas casuais da PA e Monitoração Residencial da Pressão Arterial (MRPA), e a excreção de sódio e potássio foi avaliada em amostras de urina de 24 horas. Os pacientes receberam 3 g de sal para consumo diário por 4 semanas. Resultados: Este estudo avaliou 35 pacientes (65,7% mulheres), 19 alocados no GI e 16 no GC. A idade média foi de 55,5 ± 7,4 anos. A maioria dos participantes havia completado o ensino fundamental (até a 8a série; n = 28; 80,0%), tinha renda familiar de até dois salários mínimos (n = 17; 48,6%) e praticava atividade física regularmente (n = 19; 54,3%). Dois pacientes (5,7%) eram fumantes e 40,0% consumiam álcool com regularidade (n = 14). O GI mostrou uma significativa redução tanto da PAS quanto da PAD nas medidas casuais e de MRPA (p < 0,05) e, ainda, diminuição da excreção de sódio (p = 0,016). O GC apresentou redução significativa apenas na medida casual da PAS (p = 0,032). Conclusões: A substituição do sal comum por sal light diminuiu significativamente a PA de hipertensos.

Background: Studies have shown sodium restriction to have a beneficial effect on blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive patients. Objective: To evaluate the impact of light salt substitution for regular salt on BP of hypertensive patients. Methods: Uncontrolled hypertensive patients of both sexes, 20 to 65 years-old, on stable doses of antihypertensive drugs were randomized into Intervention Group (IG - receiving light salt) and Control Group (CG - receiving regular salt). Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were analyzed by using casual BP measurements and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM), and sodium and potassium excretion was assessed on 24-hour urine samples. The patients received 3 g of salt for daily consumption for 4 weeks. Results: The study evaluated 35 patients (65.7% women), 19 allocated to the IG and 16 to the CG. The mean age was 55.5 ± 7.4 years. Most participants had completed the Brazilian middle school (up to the 8th grade; n = 28; 80.0%), had a family income of up to US$ 600 (n = 17; 48.6%) and practiced regular physical activity (n = 19; 54.3%). Two patients (5.7%) were smokers and 40.0% consumed alcohol regularly (n = 14). The IG showed a significant reduction in both SBP and DBP on the casual measurements and HBPM (p < 0.05) and in sodium excretion (p = 0.016). The CG showed a significant reduction only in casual SBP (p = 0.032). Conclusions: The light salt substitution for regular salt significantly reduced BP of hypertensive patients.