Minerals in plasma and urine and gustatory function tests for salt in a group of healthy young men.

Abstract

SummaryDetection threshold for salt (NaCl) and discrimination between two levels of NaCl concentration (0.6 and 0.7%) in foods, and their relation to some selected biochemical parameters in plasma and urine (Zn, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Se for plasma and urine, Cu and retinol binding protein for plasma) were investigated in 15 healthy male college students. No subject failed to discriminate the NaCl concentrations in more than 50% of the tests. The rate of correct discrimination (RCD) was not associated with plasma Zn (P-Zn), plasma retinol binding protein (P RBP), urinary potassium (U-K) or urinary sodium (U-Na), which signif icantly correlated with RCD in our previous study, while the detection threshold was significantly correlated with urinary Ca-Mg ratio (U -Ca/Mg), urinary Ca (U-Ca), U-Na, and urinary Mg. In the stepwise multiple regression analysis, U-Ca/Mg, plasma Ca, plasma Na, and RCD were selected as significant independent variables. These indicate that the status of minerals such as Na, Ca, and Mg is related to the gustatory function. One possible explanation for the discrepancy between the present and previous results is the elevated P-Zn and P-RBP levels in the present subjects.

Minerals and vitamin-A status in relation to gustatory functions for salt in healthy female college students.

“…The results of two studies were somewhat dissimilar: in the female students, the discriminability of NaCl concentrations in foods was related positively to plasma zinc (PZn) and plasma retinol levels and negatively to urinary potassium (UK) and sodium (UNa) levels without showing a significant association with the detection threshold for NaCl (1); in the male students, no significant parameters were found for the discriminability of NaCl concentration, but the detection threshold for NaCl was associated with the ratio of urinary calcium (Ca) to magnesium (Mg), plasma Ca (PCa), plasma sodium (PNa) , and discriminability between NaCl concentrations (2). The differences between the two groups in PZn and PRBP (these were higher in the male than in the female students) as well as in the Ca, Mg, and Na metabolism (male students would have engaged in hard physical exercise almost every day and had elevated plasma levels of these minerals) might be the cause of this dissimilarity .…”

“…Gustatory function tests of the taste for salt (NaCl) were twice studied in our laboratories in different subject: the first for female college students (1) and the second for male college students (2). The results of two studies were somewhat dissimilar: in the female students, the discriminability of NaCl concentrations in foods was related positively to plasma zinc (PZn) and plasma retinol levels and negatively to urinary potassium (UK) and sodium (UNa) levels without showing a significant association with the detection threshold for NaCl (1); in the male students, no significant parameters were found for the discriminability of NaCl concentration, but the detection threshold for NaCl was associated with the ratio of urinary calcium (Ca) to magnesium (Mg), plasma Ca (PCa), plasma sodium (PNa) , and discriminability between NaCl concentrations (2).…”

Taste perception in cirrhosis: Its relationship to circulating micronutrients and food preferences

“…However, we found no significant effects of either smoking or denture wearing on taste acuity in suggesting an association between magnesium status and taste preference. 46 In healthy young adults, 47,48 a reduction healthy volunteers and little if any effect in patients. Therefore, it is possible that stratification of subjects by smoking in the ability to discriminate sodium chloride concentrations correctly has been shown to correlate with hypomagnesuria.…”

“…However, our patients with cirrhosis made ing. 47,73,74 The relationship between vitamin A and gustatory few food choices that were different from those of healthy perception has not been fully determined but is thought to volunteers. The exceptions to this were the greater preferbe associated with the role of vitamin A in the synthesis of ence, particularly among patients on salt-restricted diets, for nonspecific mucopolysaccharides in the epithelial cells of the gherkins (sour) and grapefruit (sour) over potato crisps taste buds, an accumulation of which may impair the access (salt).…”