Abstract P328: Reduced Salt Taste Sensitivity Leads to Increase of Daily Salt Intake

Objective: It is empirically aware that inter-individual differences exist in sensitivity of salt taste. It is assumed that person with reduced sensitivity to salt taste may consume a higher amount of salt than those with a normal sensitivity of salt. The objective of this study is to reveal the relationship between the sensitivity of salt taste and salt intake. Design and method: In this study, we defined salt taste sensitivity by the threshold of the sense of salt taste. Therefore, we defined as reduced sensitivity when individuals were unable to sense salt taste in the concentration that majority of individuals could. Japanese residents who came to annual health checkups were recruited to this study. A series of salt-impregnated taste strips were used to measure salt taste intensity. Each taste strip was impregnated with sodium chloride at concentrations of 0, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 g/cm 2 . Daily sodium intake was estimated from sodium excretion in the spot urine using Tanaka’s equation. Results: Among 1,207 participants, 979 (81.1%) individuals were considered to bear normal sensitivity because they were able to detect salt taste by taste strip of 0.6 or 0.8 g/cm 2 . However, 67 (5.6%) individuals were categorized as reduced sensitivity group because they were able to detect it only by the taste strip with the highest amount of salt, or unable to detect salt taste. Daily salt intake of reduced sensitivity group was significantly higher than those in normal sensitivity group (10.3g vs 9.7g, p<0.04). No significant difference was identified in blood presser. Salt taste sensitivity decreased by age, history of smoking and presence of diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Our study revealed the sensitivity of salt taste is associated with daily salt intake, even adjusted by gender and age. Strict reduction of salt is recommended especially for Smokers or persons with diabetes mellitus, not only because low BP recommendation but also they might pretend to consume salt because of reduced sensitivity of salt taste.