DAILY FAMILY AND INDIVIDUAL USE OF TABLE SALT IN THE STATE OF MEXICO,MEXICO

The present study was carried out within the framework of the State Pr ogram for the Fluoridation of Table Salt in the State of Mexico. An es timate of the daily consumption of salt was carried out by home interv iews in four communities within the state. Such communities covered a wide range of urban-rural population and socio-economic status, as wel l as several concentrations of fluoride in drinking water and sources of distribution of salt. Results showed that the daily consumption of salt for children 1-3 years old had a mean of 1.9 g/day, while childre n 4-6 years old consumed a mean of 3.4 g/day. Adult males (23-50 years old) consumed a mean of 6.9 g/day and adult females (23-50 years old) consumed 5.4 g/day. Although these estimates may overestimate the rea l intake of table salt, based on these data the additional intake of f luoride would be of 0.5, 0.8, 1.7 y 1.3 ppm/day for each of these grou ps.