Cravings for salty things - Is this related to ASD?

[coppertop]

I was talking to dh about ds1 (9) and his latest habit of always sucking one or more fingers. (Ds1 says it's because he likes the taste).

Dh suggested that this might be related to ds1's love of salty things. If left alone he will happily pour lots of salt on his food and then eat the lot. He loves salty crisps and has to lick his fingers clean after each crisp.

Ds1 has no obvious health problems apart from asthma (well under control) and possibly very mild eczema. He has a dx of HFA.

Is this just one of those things or has anyone heard of salt cravings being related to autism?