Re: One more.....salt craving

January 9, 1996

This is extremely interesting .

Thank-you.

Kass,Salt craving might be due to adrenal insufficiency. Evan has borderline adrenal function, and he loves salty foods. He even salts french fries from 's.

Definition:

Deficiency of one or more adrenal hormones: most commonly glucocorticoids but also mineralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens.

In the child symptoms of adrenal insufficiency include recurrent vomiting, lethargy, weakness, slow growth, increased thirst, salt-craving, and increased pigmentation.

One third of children with AI present in adrenal crisis secondary to some stress--such as illness or surgery--with abdominal, back or leg pain, orthostatic hypotension, anorexia, nausea, vomiting. On lab tests they will have acidosis, hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, and hyponatremic dehydration. This presentation can be confused with gastro-enteritis, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, drug toxicity or metabolic disease.

Physical:

They may have orthostatic hypotension secondary to salt-wasting.

In secondary adrenal insufficiency they will not have increased pigmentation due to a lack of ACTH and often have mineralocorticoid function because of Renal-Angiotensin secretion for volume and potassium homeostasis. They will show signs of cortisol deficiency with hypoglycemia, poor growth and will become very sick with minor illnesses. Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

April 14, 2004

Could it be that she has some hypotension (caused by dyautonomia?) I

crave salty food and salt everything. I have severe hypotension and

have been told to salt all of my food (yeah!!!). Maybe she just

knows. Also, enjoys spicier food that the normal child. Maybe

there is a taste issue and the salt makes the food more appealing.

Just some thoughts. There is a low sodium salt on the market. I

would by it and replace your table salt with it without them knowing

it.

Dawn

April 14, 2004

Could it be that she has some hypotension (caused by dyautonomia?) I

crave salty food and salt everything. I have severe hypotension and

have been told to salt all of my food (yeah!!!). Maybe she just

knows. Also, enjoys spicier food that the normal child. Maybe

there is a taste issue and the salt makes the food more appealing.

Just some thoughts. There is a low sodium salt on the market. I

would by it and replace your table salt with it without them knowing

it.

Dawn

April 14, 2004

Could it be that she has some hypotension (caused by dyautonomia?) I

crave salty food and salt everything. I have severe hypotension and

have been told to salt all of my food (yeah!!!). Maybe she just

knows. Also, enjoys spicier food that the normal child. Maybe

there is a taste issue and the salt makes the food more appealing.

Just some thoughts. There is a low sodium salt on the market. I

would by it and replace your table salt with it without them knowing

it.

Dawn

April 14, 2004

Just a thought on this salt craving, which I had when I was younger .....

Part of the metabolic process is a sodium/potassium "pump" or exchange.

I cannot explain it simply because I don't fully understand it. I believe

it has a function in maintaining your electrolyte balance.

Jean Shepherd

Krystena wrote:

Caden craves salt the same way. I let

him have a fair amount. I know when it's too much but he does eat quite

a bit. I buy the "low sodium" salt though due to my hypertension.

Most of the time when a person "craves"

something like that, then their body actually is NEEDING it. If you think

of people with CF, their body craves salt due to salt loss. I am not sure

how salt fits in to Mitochondrial diseases (iodine??) but perhaps it's something

she's lacking.

I've never asked about it either but just

assumed that it's at least not hurting him by eating it. It actually makes

him feel better.

Let me know what you find out,

Krystena s

Caden 5.9 yrs & Carsen 10mths both

GAII

-----

Original Message -----

From:

Kass

To:

Mito

Sent:

Tuesday, April 13, 2004 10:19 PM

Subject:

One more.....salt craving

Thanks SO much for all the responses to Madison's stuff!!! Now I have a question about Abby. I apologize for all the recent

need for input....trying to get ready for a phone conference with Dr.

Whiteman and trying to get my list of things to go over together!!

Abby craves salt all the time. If we'd let her, she'd salt everything

and is known to sometimes "sneak" the salt when I step away from the table,

literally making piles of it to eat straight!! GROSS!! We don't use

alot of salt in our foods generally and I do try and keep it up and away

from her, but when she has the chance, she becomes obsessed with getting

more and more. In all honesty, I've never mentioned this to the docs,

thinking it was "just" an Abby thing, but she's driving me crazy with

it right now so I began wondering if its anything more than just a wierd

taste for things.

Has anyone seen this in their child? Any ideas if there is any significance to it??

Thanks a TON for putting up with all my questions lately!!!

-- BIG hugs,

Kass, proud mom to Chance(10-Mito), Madison(7-Mito),

and Abby(6-Mito)

Updates (http://www.caringbridge.org/tx/mitowhat/)

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Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.

April 14, 2004