Sodium detection threshold and preference for sodium chloride in humans on high and low sodium diets

Sodium detection threshold and preference for sodium chloride was examined in human volunteers on 2 week periods of high and low salt diets. There was no significant difference in salivary electrolytes or sodium detection threshold between the high and low salt diet periods. Sodium preference, defined as the final sodium concentration of unsalted tomato juice following the ad libitum addition of NaCl, was significantly less on the low salt diet when compared to the high salt period. These results suggest that short periods of dietary salt modification can result in marked shifts in preference for NaCl in the absence of changes in the physiological parameters measured.