LIMIAR DE RECONHECIMENTO DO GOSTO SALGADO E ESTIMATIVA DE CONSUMO DE SÓDIO DE TRANSPLANTADOS RENAIS

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the threshold of salty taste recognition and the estimate of sodium intake among kidney-transplant recipients who attend the renal clinic in Chapecó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods: Study with descriptive nature, quantitative approach, based on a case study. The sample consisted of 52 patients, who tasted saline solutions until recognizing the lowest concentration of salty taste. The threshold was represented by the average value of concentrations where "recognition" and "non-recognition" occurred. Other data were collected from medical records. Results: Most of the sample (63.5%) showed a threshold regarded as normal or below normal, i.e. less than or equal to 0.01 mol/l (0.91 g/l) and the average salt intake was 10.7 g/day, estimated from urinary sodium excretion. There was no significant association between the classification of salty taste recognition thresholds and some of the variables under study, namely: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, antihypertensive drug use, and estimated salt intake from urinary sodium. However, if evaluating the association between the amount of the lowest concentration recognizing salty taste and age, it shows up as statistically significant (rs = 0.339; p = 0.014). Older patients had higher salty taste recognition thresholds. Conclusion: Although there is a need for further research on the subject, a high estimate of salt intake from urinary sodium is observed, and this reality should be carefully addressed, especially by elderly patients, who have a higher salty taste recognition threshold and they may further increase intake in order to make food pleasant to their taste. Not only kidney-transplant recipients, but the Brazilian population as a whole, require public health actions to reduce salt intake. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]