Influence of Water Deprivation on Taste Sensitivity in Man

Abstract

IN a previous communication¹, I presented results showing that forced loss of salt from the body is accompanied by increases in taste sensitivity to ‘salt’ in human subjects. Sensitivity to ‘sweet’, ‘sour’ and ‘bitter’ remained unchanged. In a study of the preference behaviour of thirst (deprived of water for 17½–19 hr.) and non-thirsty rats, Young and Falk² report that thirsty rats reject hypertonic solutions and tend to prefer water to hypertonic solutions solutions. Thus it appears that the preference behaviour of rats deprived of water is practically the opposite of that shown by rats deficient in salt. In view of the finding that salt deficiency is accompanied by and increase in sensitivity to salt, Young and Falk's results suggest that water deprivation may be accompanied by a decrease in sensitivity to salt.