New Brazilian Study Identifies Gender and Living Conditions as Primary Drivers of Salt-Adding Habits in Older Adults

A Brazilian study finds that men living alone and women eating processed foods are most likely to add extra salt, increasing risks for high blood pressure.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 6:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Frontiers

The Demographic Landscape of Discretionary Sodium Intake

A large-scale analysis of over 8,300 Brazilian adults aged 60 and older has shed light on the specific social and environmental factors that influence the habit of adding salt to food at the table. This practice, known as discretionary salt use, contributes between 6% and 20% of total sodium intake and is a major concern for public health officials. According to Dr. Flávia Brito, an associate professor at Rio de Janeiro State University, the behavior remains a prevalent habit among the elderly in Brazil, appearing more frequently in men than in women. The study aimed to move beyond general statistics to identify which specific subgroups are most at risk of exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended limit of five grams of salt per day.

Social Isolation as a Catalyst for Male Sodium Consumption

The research indicates that men’s relationship with salt is influenced by a relatively narrow set of variables compared to their female counterparts. One of the most striking findings was that men living alone were 62% more likely to add salt to their food than those living in multi-person households. This suggests that social isolation or the lack of shared meal preparation may lead to less mindful seasoning habits. Additionally, the study found that men following a specific diet for hypertension were less than half as likely to use extra salt, indicating that medical intervention and structured dietary education are effective tools for this demographic.

Dietary Complexity and Urban Influence on Women’s Habits

For women, the habit of adding salt appears to be woven into a much more complex web of lifestyle and dietary characteristics. The research found that women residing in urban areas or those who frequently consume ultra-processed foods were twice as likely to add extra salt at the table. Conversely, those who regularly included fruits and vegetables in their diets showed a significantly lower likelihood of reaching for the saltshaker. Dr. Débora Santos, a co-author of the study, noted that women’s salt-adding behavior is more intrinsically linked to the overall quality of their diet, suggesting that health-conscious women are more likely to monitor and reduce their sodium intake holistically.