Sweet and salt taste sensitivity in children and elderly and its correlation withobesity and hypertension

Dietary intake in children and the elderly is affected by the ability to recognize the taste. Children and sweetness are closely linked, and the elderly have a problem caused by the deterioration of their physiological condition. The research aimed to analyze taste sensitivity in children and the elderly and its correlation with obesity and hypertension. 54 elderly (60 years old) and 101 children (9 to 15 years old) participated in this crosssectional study. Three concentrations of sucrose and saline solutions were applied to the specific part of the tongue. When compared to children, the elderly are significantly less sensitive to sweet and salty tastes (22.2% vs. 58.4%; 81.5% vs. 89.1%). According to gender, women have better sensitivity than men in both children and the elderly. In children, sweet taste sensitivity was positively correlated with age (r = 0.262; P = 0.008) and this was reflected in girls (r = 0.276; p = 0.024) and BMI/U (r = 0.213; p = 0.032). In the elderly, age was negatively correlated with salt taste sensitivity (r = -0.401; p = 0.003), and this was observed significantly in older men (p = 0.027; r = -0.611). Sweet and salty taste sensitivity was positively correlated with male diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Sweet taste sensitivity in children and salty taste sensitivity in the elderly should be of concern due to its correlation with obesity and hypertension. Appropriate adjustment of sugar and salt intake for both children and the elderly is important to avoid negative health consequences.