Exploring Associations between Interindividual Differences in Taste Perception, Oral Microbiota Composition, and...

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Microbiology
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Taste perception influences food choices and dietary habits.
• The oral microbiota plays a role in host health and metabolism.
• Understanding the interplay between taste, diet, and oral microbiome is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between taste perception, oral microbiota composition, and eating habits in healthy adults.
• To explore potential links between gustatory function, food intake, and specific bacterial taxa.
• To assess the oral microbiome as a potential biomarker for dietary patterns.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of 59 healthy adults (27 male, 32 female; age: 23.3 ± 2.6 years).
• Evaluation of taste thresholds for basic tastes (sweet, salty, bitter).
• Assessment of habitual food consumption, actual food intake, and oral microbiota composition (tongue dorsum).

Main Results:

• Differences in taste perception were associated with variations in food consumption frequency and intake.
• Oral hyposensitivity to salty and sweet tastes correlated with higher consumption of relevant food categories.
• Hypersensitivity to bitter taste was linked to increased total energy and carbohydrate intake.
• Specific bacterial taxa (e.g., Prevotella, Clostridia) on the tongue dorsum were associated with gustatory functions and diet composition (vegetable-rich vs. protein/fat-rich).

Conclusions:

• Taste perception significantly influences dietary habits and food intake patterns.
• Oral microbiota composition on the tongue dorsum shows associations with individual gustatory perception and diet.
• The oral microbiome holds potential as a biomarker for long-term healthy or unhealthy dietary consumption.