Association between salt taste sensitivity threshold and blood pressure in healthy individuals: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is an important public health problem. Overweight and high salt intake are risk factors for its development.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between salt taste sensitivity threshold (STST) and blood pressure (BP) in healthy adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Cross-sectional study conducted in a private institution.

METHODS

104 healthy adults (aged 18-59 years) were evaluated. Sociodemographic, clinical and dietary data were collected. Nutritional status and BP were assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). STST was assessed using graded saline solutions with sodium chloride concentrations ranging from 0.228 to 58.44 g/l. Identification of salty taste in solutions ≥ 3.652 g/l was used as the cutoff point for high STST.

RESULTS

Participants with high STST presented higher daily average intakes for energy (2017.4 ± 641.5 versus 1650.5 ± 357.7 kcal/day; P = 0.01) and sodium (3070.2 ± 1195.1 versus 2435.2 ± 963.6 mg/day; P = 0.01) and higher BMI (P = 0.008) and WC (P = 0.002). After adjustment for age, sex, sodium and potassium intake, WC and family history of hypertension, the averages for SBP and DBP in subjects with high STST were higher than in those with normal STST (SBP: 138.2 ± 1.7 versus 119.7 ± 0.9 mmHg; P < 0.001; DBP: 81.2 ± 1.9 versus 75.1 ± 1.0 mmHg; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

High STST was associated with elevated blood pressure in healthy adults, regardless of other risk factors for hypertension.