Salt preference: age and sex related variability.
Salt preference was assessed in 60 adults of 18-21 yrs of age (30 males and 30 females) and in 60 children of 7-12 yrs of age (30 boys and 30 girls). Subjects rated the preference on Likert scale for popcorns of five salt concentrations (OM, 1M, 2M, 3M and +3M). Statistical analysis using Two way ANOVA revealed statistically significant effect of age and sex on salt preference (F4,100 = 15.027, P < 0.01) and One Way ANOVA revealed statistically significant sex difference in salt preference of adults (F4,50 = 16.26, P < 0.01) but no statistically significant sex difference in salt preference of children (F4,50 = 4.08, P > 0.05). Dietary experiences during development and more physical activity in children may be responsible for higher salt preference in children while finding no sex variability in children favours the role of sex hormones in salt preference of male and females.
Verma
Punam
P
Department of Physiology, Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences, Patel Nagar, Dehra Dun. punamverma@rediffmail.com
Mittal
Sunita
S
Ghildiyal
Archana
A
Chaudhary
Lalita
L
Mahajan
K K
KK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000502:physiology; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000187:drug effects
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary