Salt Taste Thresholds and Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

A great deal of interest has been shown in the sodium chloride taste threshold in humans and its significance, particularly in regard to various disease states, such as cystic fibrosis of the pancreas,⁶ adrenal cortical insufficiency,⁷ etc. Many methods have been employed for determining the human salt taste threshold, but the lack of a uniform or standardized approach has resulted in considerable confusion in interpreting the results of such studies. Henkin^6,7 reported a significant difference in the salt taste thresholds of patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas when compared to those of normals and has suggested that this might be the basis of a diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis of the pancreas. Since the potential value of such a diagnostic procedure was considered to be of great importance, it was deemed advisable to pursue these studies further. For such purposes, it was decided to use as