Salt Preferences of Normotensive and Hypertensive Older Individuals

The aim of this study was to evaluate the preference for salt in hypertensive and normotensive older individuals. Hypertensive (group 1: n=32, aged 73.7 +/- 6.3 years) or normotensive patients (group 2: n=26, aged 71.5 +/- 8.0 years) were submitted to a test to determine their preference for bread samples with different salt concentrations: 1.5%, 2.0% (usual concentration), and 2.7%, and were reevaluated 2 weeks later using the same salt concentrations, but with the addition of oregano. Twenty-four-hour urinary sodium excretion (UNaV), blood pressure (BP), and body mass index (BMI) were obtained. Systolic BP, BMI, and UNaV were higher in group 1. In the first analysis, group 1 showed greater preference for the saltiest sample (P=.001). Comparing the first evaluation and the second, a greater preference for less salty samples was observed in both groups (P<.01). Hypertensive older patients consumed more salt and showed a greater salt preference than the normotensive patients. The use of the spice reduced the preference for salt in both groups. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.