Inter-individual characteristics on basic taste recognition thresholds in a college-aged cohort: potential predictive
Marta Trius-Soler1,2,3, Emily P Laveriano-Santos1,2,3, Clara Góngora1
1Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences and Gastronomy, XIA School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. jjmoreno@ub.edu.
Food & Function
|December 1, 2022
Summary
Taste sensitivity, not just diet, may offer new insights into metabolic diseases. Female sex, sinusitis, and rhinitis influenced taste recognition thresholds for sucrose and sodium chloride in college students.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Sensory Science
- Metabolic Disease Research
Background:
- Nutritional status is typically assessed via dietary patterns, potentially overlooking the role of taste receptor signaling.
- Taste sensitivity may be an underappreciated factor in the development of metabolic-associated diseases.
- Understanding taste perception is crucial for a holistic view of metabolic health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sociodemographic and clinical factors on taste recognition thresholds (RTs) for various tastants.
- To explore the relationship between taste sensitivity and potential predictors in a college-aged population.
- To generate predictive models for tastant RTs.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 397 college-aged individuals.
- Assessed recognition thresholds (RTs) for sucrose, monosodium glutamate, sodium chloride, citric acid, quinine, sinigrin, and phenylthiocarbamide.
- Utilized predictive modeling to analyze sociodemographic (sex, smoking) and clinical variables (dental health, upper respiratory conditions, BMI, family history).
Main Results:
- Females exhibited higher sucrose recognition thresholds compared to males.
- Sinusitis and rhinitis were significant predictors for sucrose and sodium chloride RTs.
- A positive correlation was observed across all tested tastant RTs, suggesting a general taste sensitivity factor.
- Smoking habit was not a significant predictor in this cohort, though long-term effects warrant further study.
Conclusions:
- Sociodemographic factors like sex and clinical conditions such as sinusitis and rhinitis impact taste sensitivity.
- Taste sensitivity, influenced by factors beyond diet, may play a role in metabolic health.
- The statistical approach provides a useful framework for future research on taste sensitivity predictors.
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