Title
Applying the triangle taste test to assess differences between low sodium salts and common salt: Evidence from Peru
Date Issued
30 July 2015
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Publisher(s)
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Background In resourced-constrained settings, daily cooking practices are still the norm. Replacing sodium in regular salt to produce potassium-enriched salts are potential alternative routes to reduce sodium intake, paired with the benefit associated with potassium intake. This change would likely have effects on palatability and taste of prepared foods, yet a threshold to discriminate sensorial changes can be determined. The main goal of this study was to assess if the use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes lead to perceived differences in taste utilizing a sensory discrimination test. Methods and Results A triangle taste test was conducted and participants were offered samples of cooked rice prepared with different salts. The only ingredient that differed in the preparation was the salt used: 100%NaCl (regular salt) and salts where sodium was replaced by 50%, 33%or 25% KCl (potassium-enriched salt). Comparisons were carried out according to the minimumnumber of correct judgments. A total of 156 subjects, 49%males, mean age 41.0 years (SD ±15.5) years, participated in the study. Samples using 25%potassium-enrichment were indistinguishable in terms of taste from regular salt, whereas samples with 33%and 50%potassium- enrichment were distinguishable. Results were consistent when stratified by sex and age. Less than 10%of participants attributed the differences to bitterness or metallic flavor. Conclusions The 25% potassium-enriched salt is indistinguishable from regular salt. These findings suggest a potential to achieve sodium intake reduction strategies in cooking practices by substituting regular salt with potassium-enriched salt without affecting palatability.
Volume
10
Issue
7
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nutrición, Dietética
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84941991893
PubMed ID
Source
PLoS ONE
ISSN of the container
19326203
Sponsor(s)
This study is supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, USA (Project 1 U01 HL114180-01) under the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases programme. All authors and the CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases are supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Global Health Initiative under the contract Global Health Activities in Developing Countries to Combat Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (Project Number 268200900033C-1-0-1). The funders had no role on study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus