Researchers studied what Nigerian adults eat to understand where all their salt comes from. They found that people in Nigeria are eating almost twice as much salt as doctors recommend, which can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. The good news? Most of this extra salt comes from choices people make at home—like adding salt to food while cooking or eating salty seasonings—rather than from processed foods. This means families have the power to reduce their salt intake by making different choices in their own kitchens.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much salt Nigerian adults eat each day and where that salt comes from in their diet
  • Who participated: 537 adults aged 18-69 years old from three regions in Nigeria (Federal Capital Territory, Kano, and Ogun). About 68% were women, and the average age was 38 years old. About 27% had high blood pressure.
  • Key finding: Nigerian adults eat about 3,876 mg of salt per day, which is nearly double what health experts recommend (2,300 mg). Men eat more salt than women. About 62% of the salt comes from choices people make at home, like adding salt while cooking or using salty seasonings.
  • What it means for you: If you live in Nigeria or eat a similar diet, you’re likely eating too much salt. The encouraging part is that most of this salt comes from home cooking choices you can control. Reducing salt added during cooking and choosing less salty seasonings could significantly lower your salt intake and help protect your heart health.

The Research Details

Researchers recruited 537 adults from three different regions in Nigeria between June and July 2023. They asked people to describe everything they ate over four separate days, with trained researchers recording the information. This method, called 24-hour dietary recalls, helps capture what people actually eat rather than relying on memory alone. The researchers then calculated how much salt was in each food and drink, and tracked where that salt came from—whether it was added at home, came from restaurant food, or was naturally present in ingredients.

The study was designed to represent the broader Nigerian population, so the researchers adjusted their results to match the age, sex, and location distribution of all Nigerians. They also looked at whether factors like age, sex, and location affected how much salt people ate.

This approach is important because it shows real eating patterns rather than what people think they eat. By collecting information over multiple days, the researchers got a more accurate picture of typical salt intake. Understanding where salt comes from is crucial for creating effective policies—if most salt comes from home cooking, public health efforts should focus on helping families reduce salt in their kitchens rather than only targeting food manufacturers.

The study is reliable because 91% of participants completed all four days of dietary tracking, which is a high completion rate. The researchers were trained professionals who recorded food intake, reducing errors from memory problems. The study included people from multiple regions of Nigeria, making results more representative. However, the study only included adults from three specific regions, so results may not apply to all of Nigeria. The study was conducted over just two months, so it captures seasonal eating patterns from that time period only.

What the Results Show

Nigerian adults in this study consumed a median of 3,876 mg of salt per day—nearly twice the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 2,300 mg per day. Men ate significantly more salt (3,832 mg) than women (3,515 mg). The difference was large enough that it’s unlikely to be due to chance.

The sources of salt tell an important story: 62% came from discretionary sources, meaning salt that people chose to add or foods they chose to eat. This included 27% from salt added during cooking, 32.5% from salty seasonings like bouillon cubes and spice mixes, and 24% from restaurant or street food. Only 8.6% came from salt naturally present in home-cooked foods.

Regional differences were notable. In Kano, people ate the most salt added at the table (10.7% of total salt intake), particularly women. In Ogun, street food was the biggest source of salt, especially for men. Older adults aged 60-69 ate about 333 mg less salt per day than those aged 30-44 years.

The study found that results were similar even when researchers excluded people with high blood pressure or heart disease, suggesting that high salt intake is a widespread problem, not just among people with existing health conditions. This indicates that many Nigerians are at risk of developing these conditions due to their salt intake. The fact that men consistently ate more salt than women across all regions suggests that dietary patterns or food preferences differ between sexes in Nigeria.

This study aligns with global research showing that most people eat too much salt. Previous studies in other countries have also found that home-added salt and processed seasonings are major sources of dietary sodium. However, this is one of the first detailed studies examining salt sources specifically in Nigeria, providing important local data for Nigerian health policy.

The study only included adults from three regions of Nigeria, so results may not represent all Nigerians, particularly those in rural areas or other regions. The study was conducted over just two months, so it may not capture seasonal variations in diet. The study relied on people remembering and accurately describing what they ate, which can be imperfect. The researchers did not measure salt intake through biological markers like urine sodium, which would provide an independent verification of the dietary data.

The Bottom Line

If you live in Nigeria or eat a similar diet: (1) Reduce salt added during cooking—use herbs and spices for flavor instead (moderate confidence); (2) Choose seasonings with less salt or make your own spice blends (moderate confidence); (3) Limit street food and restaurant meals, which tend to be very salty (moderate confidence); (4) Be aware that men may need to pay extra attention to reducing salt intake (moderate confidence). These recommendations are based on this study’s findings about where salt comes from in the Nigerian diet.

Everyone in Nigeria should care about this research, but especially: people with high blood pressure or heart disease, men (who eat more salt), people who frequently eat street food or restaurant meals, and families who want to prevent future health problems. If you don’t live in Nigeria but eat similar foods (lots of home-cooked meals with added salt and salty seasonings), these findings may apply to you too. People with certain kidney conditions should consult their doctor before making major dietary changes.

You may notice improved energy and reduced bloating within days of eating less salt. Blood pressure improvements typically take 2-4 weeks of consistent lower salt intake. Long-term benefits for heart health develop over months and years of maintaining lower salt intake.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily salt intake by logging the amount of salt added during cooking (in teaspoons), number of salty seasonings used, and frequency of restaurant/street food meals. Set a goal to reduce salt added during cooking by 25% each week until reaching a target of 1 teaspoon per day for a family meal.
  • Replace table salt and salty seasonings with fresh herbs, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, and spices like pepper, cumin, and paprika. When eating out, request food prepared with less salt. At home, taste food before adding salt—you may find you need less than you think.
  • Weekly check-ins on salt-adding habits, monthly blood pressure checks if available, and quarterly reviews of restaurant/street food frequency. Track energy levels and any changes in bloating or water retention as indirect indicators of salt reduction success.

This research describes salt intake patterns in Nigeria and should not be considered personal medical advice. While the study suggests reducing salt intake may benefit heart health, individual dietary needs vary. People with kidney disease, heart failure, or those taking certain medications should consult their healthcare provider before significantly changing salt intake. This study shows associations and patterns but does not prove that reducing salt will prevent disease in any individual. Always discuss major dietary changes with a qualified healthcare professional, especially if you have existing health conditions.