Clin Hypertens.  2017 ;23(1):22. 10.1186/s40885-017-0079-8.

The salt-taste threshold in untreated hypertensive patients

• Kim CY
• Ye MK
• Lee YS

• KMID: 2404107
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40885-017-0079-8

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The salt-taste threshold can influence the salt appetite, and is thought to be another marker of sodium intake. Many studies have mentioned the relationship between the sodium intake and blood pressure (BP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the salt-taste threshold and urinary sodium excretion in normotensive and hypertensive groups.
METHODS
We analyzed 199 patients (mean age 52 years, male 47.3%) who underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Hypertension was diagnosed as an average daytime systolic BP of ≥135 mmHg or diastolic BP of ≥85 mmHg by the ABPM. We assessed the salt-taste threshold using graded saline solutions. The salt-taste threshold, 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion, and echocardiographic data were compared between the control and hypertensive groups.
RESULTS
The detection and recognition threshold of the salt taste did not significantly differ between the control and hypertensive groups. The 24-h urinary sodium excretion of hypertensive patients was significantly higher than that of the control group (140.9 ± 59.8 vs. 117.9 ± 57.2 mEq/day, respectively, p = 0.011). Also, the urinary sodium-potassium ratio was significantly higher in the hypertensive patients. There was no correlation between the salt-taste threshold and 24-h urinary sodium excretion.
CONCLUSIONS
The salt-taste threshold might not be related to the BP status as well as the 24-h urinary sodium excretion.

Keyword

Taste; Sodium; Hypertension

MeSH Terms

Appetite
Blood Pressure
Echocardiography
Humans
Hypertension
Male
Potassium
Sodium
Potassium
Sodium