INCREASED LIKING FOR SALTY FOODS IN ADOLESCENTS EXPOSED DURING INFANCY TO A CHLORIDE-DEFICIENT FEEDING FORMULA

In a model selected for its similarity to the hormonal consequences of sodium deficiency, food choices of 169 adolescents exposed during inf ancy to a chloride-deficient feeding formula were compared to those of their closest-aged siblings. Questionnaires completed by parents were used to assess food likes and dislikes. When a salty food was mention ed by parents as one craved by either child, exposed children were mor e likely than siblings to crave that food (p=0.005). Frequencies of tw o of four salt-related dietary behaviors [adding salt to food before t asting (p=0.03) and to atypical foods (p=0.05)] were higher in exposed adolescents than in siblings, while frequencies of parallel sugar-rel ated behaviors did not differ between the groups. Foods classified as being lower in saltiness were disliked by exposed children relative to siblings (p=0.003), although ratings of foods higher in saltiness did not differ. Finally, when asked to rank eight foods in order of prefe rence, ranks assigned by exposed children to salty foods tended (p=0.0 7) to be higher than those of siblings. The data suggest a persistent effect of early experience on human salt preference. Additional studie s are needed to determine whether salt intake is increased in this and other populations that suffer electrolyte depletion during early deve lopment. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited