Disruption in the Relationship between Blood Pressure and Salty Taste Thresholds among Overweight and Obese Children

Abstract

Background Prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) among American children has increased over the past two decades, due in part to increasing rates of obesity and excessive dietary salt intake. Objective We tested the hypotheses that the relationships among BP, salty taste sensitivity, and salt intake differ between normal-weight and overweight/obese children. Design In an observational study, sodium chloride (NaCl) and monosodium glutamate (MSG) taste detection thresholds were measured using the Monell two-alternative, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method. Weight and BP were measured, and salt intake was determined by 24-hour dietary recall. Participants/Setting Eight- to 14-year-olds (N=97; 52% overweight or obese) from the Philadelphia area completed anthropometrics and BP measurements; 97% completed one or both thresholds. Seventy-six percent provided valid dietary recall data. Testing was completed between December 2011 and August 2012. Main outcome measures NaCl and MSG detection thresholds, BP, and dietary salt intake. Statistical analyses Outcome measures were compared between normal-weight and overweight/obese children with t-tests. Relationships among outcome measures within groups were examined with Pearson correlations, and multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between BP and thresholds, controlling for age, BMI-Z score, and dietary salt intake. Results Salt and MSG thresholds were positively correlated (r(71)=0.30, p=0.01) and did not differ between body-weight groups (p>0.20). Controlling for age, BMI-Z score, and salt intake, systolic BP was associated with NaCl thresholds among normal-weight children (p=0.01), but not among overweight/obese children. All children consumed excess salt (>8 g/day). Grain and meat products were the primary source of dietary sodium. Conclusions The apparent disruption in the relationship between salty taste response and BP among overweight/obese children suggests the relationship may be influenced by body weight. Further research is warranted to explore this relationship as a potential measure to prevent development of hypertension.

The influence of oral processing, food perception and social aspects on food consumption: a review

“…However, another study reported that median detection and recognition thresholds for NaCl were within normal limits for both essential hypertension and hypertension due to primary hyperaldosteronism patients (125). Moreover, high systolic blood pressure was associated with elevated NaCl thresholds among normal weight children, but not among overweight/obese children (122). The authors suggested that this apparent disruption in the relationship between salty taste response and blood pressure was influenced by body weight.…”

“…age, gender, obesity status, diet, culture, lifestyle, dose and time using medicine). These differences lead to opposite results, and to date, there is no consensus (122). For example, high blood pressure was found to be associated with higher recognition or detection thresholds for salty taste (123,124).…”

The magic water test. An affective paired comparison approach to evaluate taste sensitivity in pre-schoolers

“…For bitterness there seems to be more stability, as studies found sensitivity for 6-npropylthiouracil (PROP) to be similar between early readers and adults (Anliker, Bartoshuk, Ferris, & Hooks, 1991), and similar for female pre-teens and adults (James, Laing, & Oram, 1997). To my knowledge, there is a lack of literature about the development of children's taste sensitivity with regards to particularly sourness (Liem & Mennella, 2003;Liem, Westerbeek, et al, 2004), but also saltiness (Bobowski & Mennella, 2015;Goldstein & Leshem, 2014;Knof, Lanfer, Bildstein, Buchecker, & Hilz, 2011;Lanfer et al, 2013) and umami (Bobowski & Mennella, 2015;Knof et al, 2011;Lanfer et al, 2013). Developmental differences in taste sensitivity indicate that it could have a different relationship with taste preferences at different times.…”

Measurement of dietary sodium intake in a group of children from one to 18 months of age in a pediatric service in Cali, Colombia

“…En diversos estudios se ha evidenciado la relación directa entre factores modificables, como la ingestión elevada de sodio, el sobrepeso y la obesidad, que favorecen la elevación de la presión arterial, y se han encontrado cifras hasta tres veces más elevadas en niños obesos, independientemente de su raza o sexo (6).…”

“…La transición en la alimentación es fundamental para establecer hábitos alimenticios saludables; la exposición temprana a alimentos con alto contenido de azúcar y sal se relaciona con su mayor consumo y aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas en la edad adulta, por lo cual las estrategias de intervención temprana contribuyen a reducir su incidencia (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”