• 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.21 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze correlation thresholds and assessment for salty taste and high-salt dietary behaviors by age. Methods: A total of 524 subjects including 100 each of elementary school students, middle school students, college students, and elderly as well as 124 adults were surveyed for detection and recognition thresholds, salty taste assessments, and high-salt dietary behaviors. Results: Elementary students had a lower detection threshold (p<0.05) and recognition threshold (p<0.01) than did the other groups. Salty taste assessments were lowest among elementary students, followed by middle school students, while college students, adults, and elderly had higher assessment score (p<0.001). Elementary students had significantly lower scores for high-salt dietary behavior than did middle school students, college students, adults and elderly (p<0.001). Middle school students had higher scores for high-salt dietary behavior than did elementary school students and elderly (p<0.001) but no meaningful difference was found in dietary behavior scores between college students, adults, and elderly. There were positive correlations between high-salt dietary behavior and detection thresholds (p<0.001), recognition thresholds (p<0.001), and salty taste assessment (p<0.001). High-salt dietary behavior was more positively correlated with salty taste assessment than detection and recognition thresholds for salty taste. Conclusions: This study suggested that salty taste assessments were positively associated with scores for the detection and recognition thresholds and high-salt dietary behavior.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.555-564
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the assessment of salty taste and high-salt dietary behaviors of Korean university students and their Chinese counterparts. The researchers developed a taste assessment computer program focusing on preference for salty taste, and it was applied to 300 university students, including 100 Korean students, and 100 Chinese students in Daegu of South Korea, and 100 Chinese students in Shenyang of China (144 males and 156 females). The results of the taste assessment of Chinese and Korean university students are as follows. Among males, Koreans (36.0%), Chinese students in Korea (36.2%), and Chinese (40.4%) scored highest in the "a bit salty" followed by "normal." Among females, Koreans (36.0%), Chinese students in Korea (49.1%), and Chinese (28.3%) scored highest in the "normal". In terms of salt concentration in solution, among the male subjects, most Koreans favored the salt concentration of 0.31%, which is considered to be a "normal" concentration; most Chinese students in Korea favored 0.63%, which is considered to be "a bit salty", and most Chinese favored the concentration of 1.25%, which is considered to be "salty". As for the female subjects, Koreans, Chinese students studying abroad, and Chinese favored 0.31%, the "normal" level of concentration. Korean students scored higher than Chinese students in Korea and Chinese students both in males and females (p < 0.001, p < 0.01), in terms of high-salt dietary behaviors favored salty taste. This study suggests that Chinese university students need nutrition education in terms of modifying eating behaviors to reduce dietary 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.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.109-119
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the results of salty taste assessment, dietary attitudes, and dietary behaviors among adult and senior women by region and by age. The results generated from this was expected to provide fundamental data for implementing a nationwide salt reduction education program. Methods: The salty taste assessment tool was applied to 4,064 subjects from 15 areas in Korea. Also, a survey of dietary attitude and dietary behavior related to salt intake was conducted for all subjects participated in this study. Results: The salty taste assessment scores by region and by age were the lowest in capital (p < 0.01) and was highest among the 70+ year age group (p < 0.01). The dietary attitude scores and dietary behavior scores showed that Gyeongsang was the highest (p < 0.001) and the capital was the lowest. The dietary attitude scores were highest at 20&30's followed by 40's and 70's group (p < 0.001). Dietary behavior scores showed that 20's~30's and 40's groups were higher than the other age groups (p < 0.001). The score of 'I like kimchi' was $3.46{\pm}0.88$, which was the highest among 10 dietary behavior questions. The score of 'I eat a lot of kimchi' was $3.30{\pm}0.90$, which was the highest among 10 dietary behavior questions related to salt intake. The scores of salty taste assessment had significant positive correlations between the scores of dietary attitude (p < 0.001), dietary behavior (p < 0.001) and self-awareness (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results of salty taste assessment, we observed a tendency that older people and regions except the capital had higher preference for salty taste. Our results suggested the necessity for a nationwide salty reduction education program tailored for regions and for different age groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.38-48
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare regional differences in salty taste assessments, nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes and dietary behaviors associated with high-salt diets in four national regions in Korea (Region 1: Seoul, Sokcho, Region 2: Buyeo, Jecheon, Gong Ju, Region 3: Daegu, Gyeongsan, Region 4: Jeon Ju). Subjects were 860 persons who participated in sodium reduction campaign. The result of the salty taste assessment by region was not significantly different. The nutrition knowledge score of subjects in Region 1 was the highest. Dietary attitude scores that showed preference for high-salt diets of Region 2 and Region 4 subjects were higher than those of Regions 1 and 3 subjects (p < 0.001). Dietary behavior scores were not significantly different among regions. The correlation between sodium intake and salty taste assessment was significant (p < 0.01). Older subjects who had high blood pressure levels and lower nutrition knowledge were more likely to have high sodium intakes. Even though the salty taste assessment and dietary behavior scores by region were not significantly different, the salty taste assessment scores had a significant negative correlation with nutrition knowledge and had a significant positive correlation with dietary attitude and dietary behavior in terms of preference for high-salt diets. Therefore, nationwide education regarding salt intake reduction and health and a campaign to encourage favorable attitudes and behavioral changes regarding consumption of a no-salt / low-salt diet is needed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.402-412
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education and counseling on the salty taste assessment, nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude of 21 hemodialysis patients. Five times of the nutrition education and three times of nutrition counseling were performed for a period of 5 months. Biochemical analysis revealed that creatinine was significantly high (p < 0.001), blood urea nitrogen and serum albumin were significantly low (p < 0.05, p < 0.01) and Na, K, Cl, K, P and uric acid were not significantly different. The distribution rate of unsalty taste preference were significantly high and the distribution rate of salty taste preference were significantly low after nutrition education and counseling (p < 0.001). Nutrition knowledge significantly improved following 5th month of education and counseling (p < 0.01). Particularly, the scores for questions related to sodium were improved. The dietary attitude was significantly improved during the counseling period (p < 0.05). There were improvements in responses to 'use food exchange list on diet' and 'habitually add salt or soy sauce before the meal'. According to these results, salty taste assessment, nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude were significantly improved by the hemodialysis diet therapy practices of hemodialysis patients. Therefore, we conclude that there was a need for low-salt diet education and nutrition counseling to help them recognize the taste of low-salt foods and strive towards a preference for less salty tasting foods and the consumption of a low-salt diet.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted for comparison of salty taste assessment, salty taste preference, high-salt dietary attitude, and high-salt dietary behavior by stages of behavior change among school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 1,595 students (1,126 school- aged children, 469 adolescents) from 43 elementary schools and 17 middle and high schools in Daegu were tested using salty taste kits and surveyed using questionnaires on stages of behavior change, high-salt dietary attitude, and behavior. Results: Adolescents showed a significantly higher result for salty taste assessment than school-aged children (p < 0.01). In salty taste assessment, the students of pre-contemplation stage (n = 498) and contemplation stage (n = 686) showed higher scores than students of action stage (n = 351) and maintenance stage (n = 60). Regarding the salty taste preference, students of maintenance stage preferred the lower two samples (0.08%, 0.16%) and students of pre-contemplation stage preferred the higher two samples (0.63%, 1.25%). High-salt dietary attitude scores and dietary behavior scores were highest for students of pre-contemplation stage and were lowest for students of maintenance stage. Conclusion: Salty taste assessment, high-salt dietary attitude, and high-salt dietary behavior were significantly different by stages of behavior change among school-aged children and adolescents. This study suggests the need for examination of the stages of behavior change before nutrition education for effective education.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2009

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of a salt reduction education program. Subjects participating in this study were 251 employees (166 in the "educated" group, 85 in the "non-educated" group) at 8 hospital and industry food service operations in Daegu. After the salt reduction education program was carried out, a salty taste assessment of both groups was conducted. The educated group had statistically significant differences and the noneducated group did not have statistically significant differences. In terms of nutrition knowledge, while the nutrition knowledge of the educated group was increased (p < 0.001), that of the non-educated group rose at a rate of 0.92. In terms of dietary attitude, the educated group exhibited increased preference toward less salty foods when compared to the noneducated group (p < 0.001). Regarding dietary behavior, the score of the educated group was improved (p < 0.001), thereby indicating a preference for less salty taste. This means that nutrition education had influence on dietary behavior. However, after education, sodium excretion for the educated group was not significantly decreased, compared to before education. The results show that there was a positive correlation between salty taste assessment and dietary attitude and behavior for a high-salt diet. There was a positive relationship between attitude for a high-salt diet and sodium intake; when people prefere a more salty taste, they eat more sodium. Therefore, in order to change dietary preference away from salty taste and to decrease sodium intake, a nationwide, systematic and continuous salt reduction education program is needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.995-1008
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigate the change in taste perception during aging and its effects on dietary intake in Korean elderly. The subjects were female aged 65 through 90 in the Anyang area, and college women were included as a comparison group . Dietary intake of the elderly(n=155) and young subjects (n=38) was measured by a 3 day diet record. The taste threshold and 'just right' concentrations(JRC) for sweet and salty tastes were assessed by sensory evaluation . Sucrose solution (0.0.,0.4,0.6,0.8,1.0, 1.2%) and salt solution(0, 0.02, 0.03,0.06,0.09,0.12,0.15%) were used to establish thresholds. for JRC assessment, four suprathreshold sucrose concentrations of 5, 8, 11 and 14% in orange-pineapple flavored juice and salt concentrations of 0.20, 0.34, 0.50and 0.75% in beef stock were prepared. Mean intakes of energy, protein , vitamin A, thiamin , riboflavin, niacin ,calcium and iron of the elderly were below the Korean Recommended Dietary allowances. The elderly showed higher taste thresholds than young subjects of both sweet and salty tastes consumed less calories. Needs to bespecified. The older subjects having high threshold or JRCs for sweet and salty tastes consumed fewer calories from protein and fat. Pearson correlation coefficients was between JRC for sweet and salty tastes 0.54(p<0.01). The correlation coefficients between tastes threshold and nutrient intakes were very low for both age groups. Unlike the college women, in the elderly the JRC of sweet taste of the orange-pineapple juice were negatively correlated with intakes of energy, protein, fats, thiamin , riboflavin , niacin ,vitamin C , iron and consumption of meat and egg food groups (p<0.01). In summation age-related alterations in sweet and salty taste perception were observed in the elderly and dietary intakes of the elderly see to be influenced by these taste perception changes.