The taste of salt measured by a simple test and blood pressure in Japanese women and men

Abstract

Salt intake is an important risk factor for hypertension. Because it has been reported that increased salt intake dulls the taste of salt, measuring the sense of taste might be a good way of identifying individuals who consume excessive salt. Using a recently developed simple salt taste test, we investigated the relationship between the taste of salt and blood pressure. The subjects in this cross-sectional study were 823 Japanese adults (479 women and 344 men) 40 years old or older. Following a taste test with salt-impregnated taste strips, the subjects were divided into two groups: normal (recognition threshold of salt at o1.0% concentration) and taste impaired (X1.0%). We determined hypertension from the measured blood pressure. In women, the multi-adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of hypertension in the impaired group was 2.47 (1.53-3.99) compared with the normal group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the two male groups. When we excluded subjects with moderate and severe hypertension, similar findings were observed. A sub-analysis of couples living alone showed a higher prevalence of hypertension among men whose wives were in the impairment group (58.8%) than in the normal group (36.7%, P¼0.10). In conclusion, the taste of salt is associated with blood pressure in Japanese women, but not in men. Because most family meals in Japan are prepared by women, educating women about salt reduction may contribute to the prevention of hypertension, not only among women but also among their husbands and family members.

The Gastrointestinal Tract: an Initial Organ of Metabolic Hypertension?

“…An epidemiological study found salt taste impairment was associated with increased prevalence of hypertension in Japanese women [73]. 24-hour urinary sodium and urinary potassium excretion levels were higher in hypertensive subjects than in non-hypertensive subjects [74]. The high salt threshold group also had significantly higher 24-hour urinary sodium [74].…”

Masked Hypertension in Young Persons: Prevalence, Significance of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Prognosis by Gender Differences

“…5). Данный факт свидетельствует об избыточном потреблении в рационе консервантов и, соответственно, поваренной соли, которая, как известно, запускает периферический компонент патогенеза АД в виде водно-солевой нагрузки [13]. Роль солевой нагрузки и уровень порога чувствитель-ности к соли в последние годы активно исследуется у пациентов с АГ, с целью уточнения их роли в разви-тии АГ.…”

“…измененным порогом чувствительности к соли, муж-чины (мужья и сыновья) чаще страдают МАГ [13]. При сравнении употребления легких алкогольных напитков установлено, что мужчины с МАГ употре-бляли сухое вино в 3,5 раза чаще, чем женщины с МАГ и чем "нормотоники".…”

Revisão: metodologias para análise da sensibilidade gustativa ao sal

“…Notavelmente, identifica o indivíduo com consumo excessivo ou com maior chance de ter consumo excessivo de sal, pois o aumento do limiar resulta em uma necessidade de maiores concentrações do estímulo para a percepção sensorial (MICHIKAWA et al, 2009). …”