This prospective study was conducted to assess whether dietary experience with foods containing sodium is associated with development of infant salty taste preference. Infants (N = 61) were tested at two and six months to assess their response to 0.17 and 0.34 mol NaCl/L in water. Intake tests consisted of randomized doubleblind 120-s exposure to salt solutions and water. Acceptance was calculated as solution intake relative to water. Dietary exposure to starchy foods, a source of sodium, was defined by maternal report. Control comparisons were based on exposure to fruit. A subset of 26 subjects returned at 36–48 months for assessment of salty taste hedonics and preference. Only those infants previously exposed to starchy foods (N = 26) preferred the salty solutions at six months (P = 0.007) while fruit exposure was not associated with NaCl acceptance. Infants eating starchy foods at six months were more likely to lick salt from food at preschool age (P = 0.007) and tended to be more likely to eat plain salt (P = 0.08). These findings suggest an influential role of early dietary experience in shaping salty taste responses of infants and young children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jan;95(1):123-9. PMID: 22189260
