• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2010

High sodium intake is one of the risk factors for the development of hypertension. According to 2007 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, sodium intake of Korean was three times higher than adequate intake (1.5 g/day) recommended by Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. High sodium intake is related to high threshold and preference of salty taste. And zinc status is known to affect taste acuity. The hypothesis of this study is that zinc status is associated with salty taste acuity, preference, sodium intake and blood pressure. The subjects included in this study were 50 men and 41 women aged 20-29 y who did not smoke and not take supplements or medications regularly. Dietary intake data for 3 days were collected by 24-h recall for 1 day and dietary record for 2-days. Salty taste acuity and preference were determined by sensory test. Fasting serum concentration of zinc, height, weight, body composition and blood pressure data were collected. Salt taste preference in high zinc intake group ($\geq$ estimated average requirement, EAR; men-8.1 mg/day, women-7 mg/day) was higher than that in low zinc intake group (< EAR). Salty taste preference was inversely correlated with serum zinc concentration in people with low concentration of serum zinc (${\leqq}\;81\;{\mu}g/dL$)(r = -0.3520, p < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was higher in high sodium intake group than in low sodium intake group (p < 0.05), positively correlated with salty taste preference (r = 0.3866, p < 0.05) in subjects with daily zinc intake below the EAR. We conclude that low zinc status may be related to high salty taste preference and high blood pressure in Korean young adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.184-191
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to assess and evaluate salty taste preferences. Samples for the salty taste test were made by adding sodium chloride to soybean sprout soup at five different concentrations: 0.08% (unsalty) ; 0.16% (slightly unsalty) ; 0.31% (neither unsalty nor salty) ; 0.63% (slightly salty) ; and 1.25% (salty). Over 4,210 subjects were randomly selected and tested over a three-year period from 2005 to 2007 in Daegu. The results of the taste test were as follows: Forty-five percent of the subjects preferred soup with a salty taste and slightly salty taste. Most subjects preferred soup with a 0.31% concentration of sodium chloride. There were positive relationships between intensity and preference in 0.08%, 0.16%, and 0.31% concentrations, but there were negative relationships between intensity and preference in 0.63% and 1.25% concentrations (p<0.01). Upon examining a relationship between the taste assessment results and salty eating attitude scores, it was found that the subjects who preferred slightly salty and salty taste showed higher total scores in terms of habitual preference for/enjoyment of eating salty foods than the other groups. Comparing the taste test results with the subjects' stated preference, it was found that 70.3% of the subjects who were classified as preferring salty taste recognized this preference and 53.3% of the subjects who were classified into the population than tends to eat slightly salty food responded that they also tend to prefer a salty taste. Based on these results, this salty taste assessment study can be used as a practical and useful nutrition education tool for assessing and possibly reducing salt intake.

• 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.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.534-541
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• 2012

This study examined salty taste acuity and salty taste preference and sodium intake in relation to zinc nutritional status in 2 rural populations in Korea. And we also examined the main food contributors of their sodium intakes. We enrolled 218 adults (66 men and 152 women) from the Kangneung and Samcheok regions in Korea's Kangwon province in our study conducted from December 2011 to February 2012. Participants from each region were divided into 3 groups based on their serum zinc level (T1: lowest, T2: intermediate, T3: highest). We compared the salty taste acuity and preference, Na index (Dish Frequency Questionnaire for estimation of habitual sodium intake), blood pressure, and intakes of nutrients including sodium by 3 groups of serum zinc level. The results were as follows: a higher serum zinc level indicated a lower sodium intake and Na index (P<0.05). The salty taste acuity was considerably higher for participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). And the serum zinc level was significantly higher in participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). We further divided the participants into 2 groups: those who consumed more zinc than the recommended intake (RI) and the others. We compared salty taste acuity and salty taste preference in the 2 groups. The salty taste threshold and palatable salty taste concentrations were lower for the group with a zinc intake above RI than for the group with zinc intake below the RI. However, the difference was not significant. This study confirms that taste function differs depending on zinc nutritional status. In future, it is required to a large-scale, long-term, prospective study on the correlation between zinc intake, serum zinc levels, and taste perception function and blood pressure.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.248-256
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• 1990

To compare Na intake and excretion in elementary school children in rural and urban areas of Korea, dietary intake record, urinary Na and K excretion and preference for salty taste were measured in 39 children in 4th grade in Seoul and 36 children in 4th and 5the grades in Kochang-gun)farming area) and their mothers. mean daily urinary Na excretions were 48.8mEq in children and 62.3mEq in mothers. Mothers showed significantly higher preference for salty taste compared to children(X2=16.09, p<0.01). Among the children, those in Seoul had higher preference for salty taste than those in Kochang-gun(X2=8.32, p<0.05). Since the children showed significantly lower preference for salty taste than mothers, more researches and efforts should be directed to prevent the shifts of the taste of the children in order to decrease their Na intake and the risk of hypertension later in life.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.100-115
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the effects of taste preference on dietary behavior and nutrient intake. The subjects were 191 female collegians in the Gyeonggi and Gangwon areas. Data were collected using anthropometric measurements, 24-hour recall, and self-administered questionnaires. The respondents were classified into sub-groups according to taste preference: sweet taste (liked and disliked group), salty taste (liked and disliked group), sour taste (liked and disliked group), hot taste (liked and disliked group), and bitter taste (liked and disliked group). The results of this study are as follows: subjects liked, in order of taste preference, hot>sweet>sour>salty>bitter tastes. There were no significant differences in height, weight, and BMI among the groups. The sweet-taste-liked group, tended to prefer Chinese food and fast foods for eating out over the sweet-taste-disliked group (p<0.05). Subjects in the salty-taste-liked group ate faster (p<0.05) and more than those in the salty-taste-disliked group (p<0.05). They also consumed more animal fat and meat (p<0.05) than their counterparts. Compared with the sour-taste-disliked group, subjects in the sour-taste-liked group tended to select Korean food or Japanese-style food for eating out, and fruits for a snack (p<0.05). The meal size of the hot-taste-liked group tended to be more regular (p<0.05) than that in the hottaste-disliked group. Overall, there were distinct differences in dietary behavior and food choices according to taste preference. Taste preference should be considered for dietary consulting and nutritional education.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.88-98
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• 2016

Purpose: We recruited 118 women in their early 20's to examine the relationship between sodium intake and salty taste thresholds and preference. We also examined the association of salty taste preference with sodium-related dietary behaviors and major dishes contributing to sodium intake. Methods: Daily sodium intake was estimated using a 127-item dish-frequency questionnaire. Salty taste thresholds and preference were measured using rating scales using water solution of NaCl and a self-administered questionnaire based on a Likert scale, respectively. Results: Salty taste preference showed positive correlation with daily sodium intake and sodium intake-increasing behaviors, and inverse association with sodium intake-decreasing behaviors, including salt and soy sauce use at the table, the frequency of eating out and home delivery of foods, broth consumption of soup, stew or noodle soup, the use of ready-to-serve or processed foods, fresh vegetable intake, and the accommodating attitude toward bland food. Intake of sodium-contributing dishes, including ramen, spicy soft-tofu stew, radish kimchi, and dishes containing kimchi, also showed positive association with salty taste preference. Unexpectedly, detection and recognition thresholds of salty taste showed no association with salty taste preference, sodium intake, and sodium-related dietary behaviors. Conclusion: These findings suggest that salty taste preference could reflect sodium intake of individuals rather than thresholds of saltiness, and may be used as a simple and effective proxy for usual sodium intake.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2001

This study investigated the effect of taste preference(sweet, sour, salty, hot) on anthropometric measurements and nutrient intakes of 256 primary school children in Kwangju. There was no significant difference in the anthropometric measurements according to the sweet taste preference. Height, weight, triceps, abdomen, and chest circumferences of the group preferring a sour taste, however, were significantly lower than those of the other groups. The height of the group preferring a salty taste was significantly shorter than that of the other groups and there was a tendency toward high systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. The waist circumference of the group not preferring the hot taste was larger than those of the other groups. There was no significant difference in the energy intake according to the sweet taste preference. The protein intake of the group preferring a sweet taste as significantly lower than that of the other groups. The fiber intake of the group preferring a sour taste was significantly higher than that of the other groups. There were no significant differences in the nutrient intakes according to the salty taste preference. The energy intake of the group preferring a hot taste was lower than that of the other groups. The results show that children's taste preferences influence anthropometric measurements and nutrient intakes. These results suggest that children's eating behaviors are in needs of correction. The findings of this study should be applied to nutrition education to ensure better physical fitness of children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.669-678
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• 1997

This study was designed to estimate the sodium intake of preschool children . To determine the sodium intake & excretion of preschool children in Korea, dietary behaviors, anthropometry, intakes of dietary nutrients, urinary sodium excretion and preference for salty foods were measured in 42 preschool children (male 26 , female 16, average6.5 years old) and their mothers. The results are summarized as follows. Mean daily urinary sodium excretion was 52.7 mEq(1,212.1mg). This value did not show remarkable change compared with the other studied that were accomplished in the similarage group for about the last ten years. And the subjects showed lower preference for salty taste than those of elementary school children and adults. Mean daily lower preference for salty taste than those of elementary school children and adults. Mean daily urinary sodium excretion were significantly correlated with the frequency of eating out (p<0.01), potassium intake(p<0.001) and urinary sodium to potassium excretion ratio(p<0.001). But there weren't any correlations with mean daily sodium intake, blood pressure, dietary nutrients intake and the preference for salty taste.

• 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.