• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.837-848
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• 2007

The literature suggested that a small reduction in overall blood pressure can have a large effect on overall prevalence of hypertension, and therefore, the affect of taste preferences of the population on salt intake should be considered for long-term blood pressure intervention programs. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity on salt intake behavior as risk factors for high blood pressure. We collected information on blood pressure, diet and lifestyle behaviors, salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity from 540 respondents from Suseo-dong, Seoul. Salt taste sensitivity was assessed by administering a 1% NaCl solution to the subject's tongue and measuring the perceived intensity on 10 level scale. Salt intake behavior was classified into 3 categories: frequency of high-sodium foods, practice of salt-reducing behavior and frequency of vegetable and fruit intake. Salt taste preference showed a significant relation to the subjects' blood pressure, i.e. subjects with a higher salt preference had higher blood pressure. Salt taste sensitivity did not show a significant relation to blood pressure. However, there was a positive correlation between salt taste preference and salt taste sensitivity. Among the 3 indicators used to measure salt intake behavior, the practice of salt-reducing behavior remained significantly correlated to blood pressure. Moreover, salt-reducing behavior and salt taste preference showed a significant correlation, i.e. people who do not like salty foods tend to practice more salt-reducing behavior, leading to reduced levels in blood pressure. In a population, a small reduction in overall blood pressure can have large effects in overall prevalence of hypertension, in contrast to clinical studies where achievement of an individual's normal blood pressure is emphasized. Therefore, taste preference of the population should be considered for long-term blood pressure intervention programs.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.448-458
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• 2014

Objectives: Increasing salt preferences with age are said to increase preferences of salty foods, thereby leading to greater sodium consumption, which has further implication for hypertension. This study examined the link between preference of salty taste and dietary factors and health-related risk factors in Korean elderly people. Methods: We studied 312 elderly individuals aged > 65 years (male, 100 and female, 212). With each subject, pleasant concentration of NaCl was estimated using the sip-and-spit method. Dietary habits, food preferences, consumption frequencies, anthropometric and biochemical assessment were assessed. Results: The pleasant salt concentration was significantly increased in individuals older than 75 years (p < 0.05). Subjects who liked high concentration of salt showed significantly higher preferences for salty foods (p < 0.001). Results showed significant effects (p < 0.01) of fruit & fruit juice consumption frequencies, MNA (mini-nutritional assessment), cognition score, BMI, body fat %, waist circumference, arm circumference, calf circumference, vitamin D level that subjects who likes low salty taste were higher than subjects who likes high salty taste. Conclusions: The preference for salty taste in the elderly was not correlated with hypertension. But, increased preference for salty taste with age and increased salty food preferences may result in higher sodium consumption. Therefore, nutritional education regarding lowering salt preference and favorable behaviors of low-salt diet is needed to improve the quality of life in the rural elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.659-665
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• 2012

This study investigated the effect of salt preference on dietary habits and the body composition of university students. The subjects were divided into two groups: 85 students who dislike salt (salt-dislike (SD) group) and 104 students who like salt (salt-like (SL) group). We found that the SL group showed a higher preference for sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter flavors compared to the SD group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of eating breakfast according to the salt taste preference. The meal speed of the SL group was significantly higher than the SD group (p<0.01) and the body mass index of the SL group ($22.59kg/m^2$) was higher than SD group ($21.04kg/m^2$). The fat mass of the SL group (15.30 kg) was higher than the SD group (12.80 kg) (p<0.01). Salt preference and snack intake frequency had a significant and positive correlation with fat mass. The frequency of eating breakfast, and meal speed also showed a significant and positive correlation with subcutaneous fat. In conclusion, the SL group eats relatively more, speedily and frequently intakes snacks and carbonated drinks, likely resulting in higher body and subcutaneous fat. These results suggest salt preference is related to food choice, influences unreasonable eating habits, and possibly changes body composition. Taste preferences should therefore be considered for dietary consulting and nutritional education.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.297-307
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was to estimate salt preference and sodium intake of pregnant women, and identify the relationship between salt preference and sodium intake. Methods: Research design was a cross sectional correlational survey with 197 pregnant women who visited outpatient clinics for antenatal care. The sodium intake levels were estimated by the amounts of sodium intake using the 24-hour recall method and sodium concentration in spot urine. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation. Results: Sodium intake using 24-hour recall method was $3,504{\pm}1,359mg$. Sodium intake levels had statistically significant differences depending on income. The average amount of sodium in spot urine was $2,882{\pm}878mg/day$. Sodium excretion levels had statistically significant differences depending on whether participants had preexisting hypertension in their family history and Body Mass Index (BMI) pre-conception. Salt preference was $62.61{\pm}20.96$ out of 180 points. Salt preference had significant differences depending on income, parity, gestational age, BMI pre-conception and showed negative correlation with sodium quantity in spot urine. Conclusion: Sodium intake in pregnant women recommended by World Health Organization recommended is 175%. Salt preference was not significantly different between sodium intake levels, however it was negatively correlated with sodium quantity in spot urine among pregnant women.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.525-532
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of Northeast Asians to discriminate the salinity in salt solution and foods, and to compare their preference of salinity. Panels of Korean, Japanese and Chinese evaluated three kinds of samples that contained different level of salt such as salt solutions, julienned radish salad, Bulgogi. The salt levels had been manipulated to produce five samples of each one. The salt solutions were prepared by adding 0.3%, 0.7%, 1.1%, 1.5%, 1.9% salt into water. Different levels of salt in Julienned radish salad and Bulgogi were prepared by adding 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, 3.5%, 4.5% salt to the recipe. The results of this study showed that the three ethnic groups had significant differences in their ability to distinguish the intensity of salinity in solutions containing a high contents of salt(1.5~1.9%). According to the regression analysis, Koreans(a=1.050) turned out to be the most able to detect the intensity of salinity, compared to the Japanese (a=0.988) and Chinese (a=0.807). All ethnic groups preferred a salt concentration of 0.3%, and the preference for this concentration was lower in Japanese than in Koreans and Chinese. There were significant differences in the perception of salinity in the julienned radish salad containing more than 3.5% salt between Koreans and Chinese. Koreans (a=1.168) appeared to be the most able to detect the intensity of salinity, compared to the Japanese (a=0.908) and Chinese (a=0.793). Both Koreans and Japanese had the strongest preference for the julienned radish salad containing a 1.5% salt concentration, while the Chinese preferred a salt concentraion of 2.5%. The ability of ethnic groups to detect the salinity in Bulgogi were significantly different at high salt -concentrations (more than 3.5%), and the awareness of salinity was as fallows : Koreans(a=0.161) > Japanese (a=0.896) > Chinese (a= 0.845). Koreans and Japanese had a higher preference or the Bulgogi containing a salt concentration of 1.5%, and the Chinese had higher preference at a salt concentration of 2.5%.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.625-638
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship of dietary factors to blood pressure in 5th and 6th grade school children. Salt threshold, salt preference and nutrition knowlege about blood pressure were tested. Twenty-four hour urines were collected for the measurements of the volume and concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, creatinine and urea nitrogen. 1) Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of elementary school children were 106.8/67.6mmHg in males and 108.7/69.5mmHg in females. Seven children(4%) of total subjects were found to be hypertensive. Their mean blood pressure was 130.0/86.4mmHg. 2) Urinary excretions of creatinine and urea nitrogen during twenty-four hours were 621.1mg and 1524mg, respectively. The mean daily urinary sodium excretion was 2940mg, which is equivalent to 7.37g NaCl. 3) The daily urinary excretions of other minerals were as follows; potassium was 1301mg, chloride, 4991mg, calcium, 55.7mg and phosphorus, 700.03mg. 4) Salt preference of hypertensive children90.473$\pm$0.275) was significantly higher than those of normotensive children(0.473$\pm$0.213%), but salt threshold was lower in hypertensives(0.105$\pm$0.04%) than normotensives(0.081$\pm$0.022%) (p<0.05). INdices for assessing obesity, such as body weight, triceps skinfold, weight for heigth and body surface area, were high in hypertensive children than normotensive children(p<0.05). But there was no significant difference in energy and nutrient intakes between two groups. 5) Various anthropometric measurements had positive correlations with blood pressure, but body muscle mass(%) had a negative correlation with blood pressure. And daily energy and nutrient intakes were not related to blood pressure. 6) Blood pressures-both systolic and diastolic-were significantly correlated with urinary excretions of potassium and chloride. Daily sodium excretion was related to systolic blood pressure, but no related to diastolci blood pressure. There was no relationship of salt threshold to salt preference, and neither threshold nor preference was related to blood pressure. Results of this study suggest that nutrition education program for children including the information about desirable food habits for the prevention of hypertension should be developed.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.185-192
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate factors affecting sensitivity and preference for salty tastes of Korean adult females. Sensitivity and preference for salty tastes were determined as detection threshold concentration of NaCl solution and the optimally-preferred NaCl concentration of the bean sprout soup, respectively. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the information regarding general characteristics, self diagnosis of stress, health-related lifestyle practices, dietary habits and food preferences. Dietary intake using 24-hours recall and blood pressure were measured. Salty taste detection thresholds and optimally-preferred NaCl concentrations were 0.0197% and 0.357%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the optimally-preferred salt concentration and age, despite no significant correlation between either sensitivity or preference for salty taste and sodium intake, which was 3,605mg/day. Those who had bread or cereal with milk as breakfast instead of a traditional Korean meal and those who preferred jjigae to soup had significantly higher NaCl preferences for bean sprout soup. Going to bed after midnight and skipping meals (${\geq}3/week$) decreased salty taste sensitivity without reaching statistical significance. Self awareness of one's own health, recent weight changes, family history of hypertension, sleep quality, getting-up time, rate of eating and other food preferences did not affect either perception. Stress level, TV watching, BMI and sodium intake did not have significant correlation to sensitivity or preference. Further research including a large number of well-controlled subjects and more accurate measurement of sodium intake should be directed to find other factors affecting salt preference and sensitivity in order to decrease Na intake and related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.143-152
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• 1994

To investigate the changes of taste perception by aging, sixty one healthy elderly people and sixty five young adults were participated in the study. Most preferred levels of salt sour and sweet taste were chosen in bean sprout soup radish salad and yaksing respectively. Threshold levels of each taste were also chosen in NaCl solution for salt taste in citric acid solution for sour taste and in sucrose solution for salt taste, in citric acid solution for sour taste and in sucrose solution for sweet taste. The results are as follow: 1.Most preferred salt concentration in bean sprout soup was significantly higher in the elderly than in the young adults(p$\leq$0.001). There was no difference in sour taste preference of radish salad in both age groups. Most preferred sweetness in yacksig was significantly higher in both elderly men and women(p$\leq$0.001) 2. Threshold levels of salt and sweet taste were significantly higher in the elderly (p$\leq$0.001) However there was no difference in threshold level of sour taste in both age groups.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.238-245
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• 2012

This study investigated the preference and intake frequency of a list of 15 commonly available high sodium Malaysian foods/dishes, dis cretionary salt use, and their possible association with demographics, blood pressures and anthropometric measurements among 300 Malaysian university students (114 males, 186 females; 259 ethnic Chinese, 41 Indians; 220 lean, 80 overweight). French fries and instant soup noodle were found to be the most preferred and most frequently consumed salty food, respectively, while salted fish was least preferred and least frequently consumed. Males had a significantly higher intake frequency of at least 6 of the salty foods, but the preference of most salty foods was not significantly different between genders. Ethnic Chinese significantly preferred more and took more frequently traditional and conventional Malaysian foods like asam laksa (a Malaysian salty-sour-spicy noodle in fish stock), salted biscuits and salted vegetable, while Indians have more affinity and frequency towards eating salty Western foods. Body Mass Index was significantly negatively correlated with the intake frequency of canned/packet soup and salted fish while waist circumference was significantly positively correlated with the preference of instant noodle. Also, an increased preference of potato chips and intake frequency of salted biscuits seemed to lead to a decreased WHR. Other than these, all the other overweight/obesity indicators did not seem to fully correlate with the salty food preference and intake frequency. Nevertheless, the preference and intake frequency of asam laksa seemed to be significant negative predictors for blood pressures. Finally, increased preference and intake frequency of high sodium shrimp paste (belacan)-based foods like asam laksa and belacan fried rice seemed to discourage discretionary salt use. In conclusion, the preference and intake frequency of the high sodium belacan-based dish asam laksa seems to be a good predictor for ethnic difference, discretionary salt use and blood pressures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2017

The feasibility of reduction of sodium intake using sun-dried salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG) was studied. Preference test was performed to evaluate the sensory properties of bean-sprout soup and vegetable rice porridge soup. Sun-dried salt and MSG might be a partial substitute for refined salt. There was a significant difference in salt taste strength between sun-dried salt and refined salt. Sun-dried salts 0.45% with MSG 0.07% resulted in the highest taste preference compared to that of sun-dried salts 0.60% without MSG in bean-sprout soup, which resulted in 23.9% reduction of sodium intake. Sun-dried salts 0.38% with MSG 0.04% resulted in the highest taste preference compared to sun-dried salts 0.53% without MSG in vegetable rice porridge soup, which resulted in 25.4% reduction of sodium intake. There seemed to be a synergistic effect on reduced usage of sodium salt when MSG was used in vegetable rice porridge and bean-sprout soup with sun-dried salt.