The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) recommends which of the following as the target for reduction of salt intake per capita per day in India?

Explanation

## NPCDCS Salt Intake Reduction Target **Key Point:** The NPCDCS recommends a reduction in salt intake to **5 grams per day** per capita, aligning with WHO guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention. ### Current vs. Target Salt Intake in India | Parameter | Current Status | NPCDCS Target | WHO Recommendation | |-----------|----------------|----------------|--------------------| | Average salt intake | ~10–12 g/day | 5 g/day | ≤5 g/day | | Primary source | Processed foods, salt added during cooking | Reduced processed foods, less added salt | Minimal processing | | Target reduction | — | 50% reduction | 50% reduction | **High-Yield:** The 5 g/day target is equivalent to approximately **1 teaspoon of salt per day** and is based on evidence showing that this level reduces hypertension prevalence and cardiovascular disease risk by 10–15% at the population level. ### Why 5 grams? 1. **Evidence-based:** Meta-analyses show that reducing salt from 10 g to 5 g reduces systolic BP by 5–6 mmHg and diastolic BP by 2–3 mmHg. 2. **Feasible:** Achievable through public health interventions (food industry reformulation, dietary counseling). 3. **WHO alignment:** Consistent with global NCD prevention strategies. **Clinical Pearl:** Most Indians exceed the recommended intake due to high consumption of processed foods, pickles, papad, and salt added during cooking. NPCDCS emphasizes dietary counseling and food industry engagement to reduce salt content in packaged foods. **Mnemonic:** **5-5-50** = 5 grams salt per day target, 5 mmHg systolic BP reduction, 50% reduction from current intake. [cite:Park 26e Ch 9]