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Louro T, Castelo PM, Simões C, Capela E Silva F, Luís H, Moreira P, Lamy E. Adherence to mediterranean diet and aromatic plants intake are related with gustatory function: A case-study from a Portuguese region. Appetite 2024; 201:107581. [PMID: 38945368 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The Mediterranean Diet has been recognized as one of the healthiest and most sustainable dietary patterns and is flavor rich due to the use of different seasonings, such as aromatic plants, in dish confection. Based on the hypotheses that: 1) gustatory function will affect food choices; 2) seasoning flavors may be differently accepted according to individuals' gustatory functions; the aim of the present study was to assess the association between taste sensitivity and/or preference with Mediterranean Diet adherence and seasoning consumption. A total of 383 adults (18-59 years old; 198 female, 185 male) from North Alentejo region of Portugal were enrolled in this study, with 291 (145 female and 146 male) also evaluated for gustatory function. Recognition thresholds were obtained for four tastes (sweet, sour, salty, and bitter) and astringency, as well as preference level for the highest concentration of each stimulus tested. A validated Food Frequency Questionnaire was filled out, and MD adherence was extrapolated from the answers of the Food Frequency Questionnaire according to the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score. In total, 20.8% of the individuals presented low, 58.2% medium, and 21.0% high adherence. Adherence was higher in women than men and in older individuals than younger adults. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet was positively correlated with aromatic plants consumption but not spices. Seasonings were associated with gustatory function, and the cluster with higher consumption presented higher preferences for bitter and salty tastes. Total sodium intake was also higher in this cluster, suggesting that these individuals prefer stronger oral sensations. In conclusion, this study shows that MD adherence is not high, even in regions with rural characteristics. The observed association of MD and seasoning intake with gustatory function do underline the usefulness of this information in strategies aimed at promoting healthy and sustainable eating patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Louro
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal
| | - Paula Midori Castelo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Carla Simões
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal
| | - Fernando Capela E Silva
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal; Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development, Universidade de Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho nº 59, 7000-671, Évora, Portugal
| | - Henrique Luís
- Oral and Biomedical Sciences Research Unit (UICOB), Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, 1600-277, Lisboa, Portugal; Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciThecCare), Politécnico de Leiria, 2411-901, Leiria, Portugal
| | - Pedro Moreira
- Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Universidade do Porto, 4150-180, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elsa Lamy
- MED - Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554, Évora, Portugal.
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Yuan D, Tang H, Yang P, Guo C. Taste preferences, cardiometabolic diseases and mild cognitive impairment: a prospective cohort analysis of older Chinese adults. Br J Nutr 2024; 131:1064-1073. [PMID: 37935409 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114523002593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Taste preference is a pivotal predictor of nutrient intake, yet its impact on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) remains poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the association between taste preferences and MCI and the role of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in this association. The study included older adults, aged 65-90 years, with normal cognitive function at baseline who were enrolled in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) from 2008 to 2018. MCI was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination, and multivariable Cox regression models were applied. Among 6423 participants, 2534 (39·45 %) developed MCI with an incidence rate of 63·12 - per 1000 person-years. Compared with individuals with insipid taste, those preferring sweetness or spiciness had a higher MCI risk, while saltiness was associated with a lower risk. This association was independent of objective dietary patterns and was more pronounced among urban residents preferring sweetness and illiterate participants preferring spiciness. Notably, among sweet-liking individuals, those with one CMD experienced a significant detrimental effect, and those with co-occurring CMD had a higher incidence rate of MCI. Additionally, regional variations were observed: sweetness played a significant role in regions known for sweet cuisine, while the significance of spiciness as a risk factor diminishes in regions where it is commonly preferred. Our findings emphasize the role of subjective taste preferences in protecting cognitive function and highlight regional variations. Target strategies should focus on assisting individuals with CMD to reduce excessive sweetness intake and simultaneously receiving treatment for CMD to safeguard cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianqi Yuan
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Huameng Tang
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Peisen Yang
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Guo
- Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
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Pierguidi L, Spinelli S, Prescott J, Monteleone E, Dinnella C. Responsiveness to warning sensations and anxiety-related psychological traits modulate individual differences in preference for vegetable foods with varied sensory properties. Food Res Int 2023; 173:113342. [PMID: 37803693 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The innate aversion to warning sensations is an important barrier to the acceptance of vegetable food often characterized by bitter and sour tastes, and astringency. Large individual variations exist in preference for this food category. The present study aimed at exploring differences in demographics, anthropometrics, taste responsiveness, personality traits and attitudes in consumers differing in their preference for vegetable food with varied levels of warning sensations. A panel of Italian consumers (n = 718; 53.6% women, age 18-74 years) self-reported familiarity with, preference for and choice of vegetables with high and low levels of warning sensations. Two clusters were identified: High Warning-Vegetable Consumers (HWVC, n = 464) and Low-Warning Vegetable Consumers (LWVC, n = 254). HWVC showed higher familiarity with and preference for vegetables as a whole and higher choice of vegetables characterized by warning sensations than LWVC. HWVC were more represented by older and normal weight individuals as compared to LWVC. Differences among clusters in liking for and perception of a phenol-enriched plant-based food model specifically developed to induce different levels of bitterness, sourness and astringency were found. HWVC rated bitterness, sourness, and astringency lower and liking higher than LWVC. Scores in anxiety-related psychological traits were lower while attitudes to healthy and high-quality food choice were higher in HWVC than in LWVC. The results of the present study depicted a coherent interplay among several person-related dimensions in modulating preference for vegetable foods. Higher responsiveness to warning sensations, higher level of anxiety-related traits, lower importance assigned to food healthy/quality aspects and younger age all acted as barriers to exposure and acceptance of vegetable food and call for a multidimensional approach to promote the consumption of this food category.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pierguidi
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy.
| | - S Spinelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | - J Prescott
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy; TasteMatters Research & Consulting, Sydney, Australia
| | - E Monteleone
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
| | - C Dinnella
- Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Italy
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Geuens M. Research on Influencing Factors of Food Choice and Food Consumption. Foods 2023; 12:foods12061306. [PMID: 36981232 PMCID: PMC10048757 DOI: 10.3390/foods12061306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, most consumers are well aware of what makes up a healthy and sustainable diet [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Geuens
- Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Tweekerkenstraat 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Spence C. Are pineapples really delicious? The history of the pineapple's taste/flavour and the role of varietal and terroir. Int J Gastron Food Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Sobek G, Jagielski P. The Number of Fungiform Papillae, Taste Sensitivity and Smell Functions of Children Aged 11–15. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14132578. [PMID: 35807758 PMCID: PMC9268619 DOI: 10.3390/nu14132578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in the ability to identify and perceive tastes and smells might influence food consumption and, ultimately, chronic nutrition-related conditions such as overweightness and obesity. This study aimed to investigate the associations between taste sensitivity and odour function, anthropometry, and quantity of fungiform papillae in children at age 11–15. Taste strips (4 base tastes), U-Sniff sticks (12 selected smells), and a filter paper strip impregnated with 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) were used. The photographic method was used to estimate the number of fungiform papillae (FP) on the tongue. The results showed that the quantity of FP was not related to anthropometry or gender. The taste test total scores were higher for girls, for whom the median score was 14 (12.0–15.0), than for boys, for whom the median score was 12 (9.0–13.0). Of the children, 13.9% had some difficulty in identifying odours. The Mann–Whitney U test showed that children who were most sensitive to bitter taste had more FP (p = 0.0001). The median score for this group (score = 4) was 34.0 (27.0–37.0). For those who had some problems with correctly assessing all bitter taste strips (score = 0–3), the median score was 24.0 (20.0–31.0). Higher numbers of FP were also observed in tasters, that is, people sensitive to PROP, than in nontasters. Only some measures of the taste function correlated with each other, but not very significantly. We concluded that there are multiple perceptual phases of taste, with no single measure able to entirely represent the sense of taste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Sobek
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Paweł Jagielski
- Department of Nutrition and Drug Research, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-066 Krakow, Poland;
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Bawajeeh A, Zulyniak MA, Evans CEL, Cade JE. Characterizing Adolescents' Dietary Intake by Taste: Results From the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Front Nutr 2022; 9:893643. [PMID: 35795580 PMCID: PMC9251474 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.893643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The taste of foods is a key factor for adolescents' food choices and intakes, yet, exploring taste characteristics of adolescents' diet is limited. Using food records for 284 adolescents (10–19 years old) from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), year 9 (2016–2017), we classified diets according to taste. Tastes for each food consumed were generated from a previous survey that asked participants to allocate one main taste to each food. Responses from that survey were processed and included in a Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) to identify taste clusters. The resulting tastes were then applied to the adolescents' food records in the NDNS. For each individual, the total weight of food per day for each taste was calculated. A linear regression model was used to explore dietary intakes from each taste. Findings reveal that adolescents' daily energy intake was highest (34%) from foods that taste sweet. Sweet foods were the main calorie contributors at breakfast and daytime snacking, while energy intake from neutral-tasting foods was higher at lunch and dinner. Sweet food intake was significantly positively associated with higher energy, sugar, and fat intakes. For each percentage increase in sweet foods, energy increased by 10 kcal/d (95% CI 6, 15; P < 0.01). Savory food intake was lower in carbohydrates and sugars; with neutral food consumption inversely associated with energy, carbohydrate, sugars, saturated and total fat. Higher salty food intake was linked to higher saturated fat as well as sodium consumption. Sweet and neutral foods dominate the UK adolescent diet, followed by savory tastes. Balancing the contributions of different tasting foods could assist in improving adolescent diet quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areej Bawajeeh
- Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Areej Bawajeeh
| | - Michael A. Zulyniak
- Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte E. L. Evans
- Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Janet E. Cade
- Nutritional Epidemiology Group, School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Martínez-Sánchez LM, Parra-Martínez C, Martínez-García TE, Martínez-García C. Cognitive Keys in Psychophysical Estimation of Chemosensory Perception in University Students. Foods 2021; 10:foods10123134. [PMID: 34945685 PMCID: PMC8701806 DOI: 10.3390/foods10123134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychophysical methods allow us to measure the relationship between stimuli and sensory perception. Of these, Detection Threshold (DT) allows us to know the minimum concentration to produce taste identification. Given this, we wonder whether, for example, wine tasting experts are more capable of perceiving their sensory properties than other people, or whether they can distinguish them because they are better able to “describe” them. To verify this, this study analyses the influence of having prior knowledge of the name astringency and, failing that, to detect it and distinguish it between the four basic tastes. One-hundred-and-sixty-two university students with an average age of 19.43 (SD = 2.55) years were assigned to three experimental conditions: an experimental group (G.2) without previous knowledge of the name astringency and with alimentary satiety, and two control groups, both with previous knowledge of the name, these being G.1, with satiety, and G.3, with hunger. DT was collected for the four basic tastes and astringencies. Results showed significant differences in the identification of astringency, being the least identified experimental group with respect to the control groups. It is striking that G.2, without prior knowledge of the name, identified astringency as a bitter taste in most cases. This supports our hypothesis of the importance of attending to linguistic cognitive processes when psychophysically estimating taste in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura María Martínez-Sánchez
- Department of Didactics of Physical, Plastic and Musical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.M.M.-S.); (C.M.-G.)
| | - Cecilio Parra-Martínez
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain;
| | | | - Concha Martínez-García
- Department of Social, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, Psychology and Sports Sciences, University of Huelva, 21007 Huelva, Spain
- Correspondence: (L.M.M.-S.); (C.M.-G.)
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Roukka S, Puputti S, Aisala H, Hoppu U, Seppä L, Sandell MA. The Individual Differences in the Perception of Oral Chemesthesis Are Linked to Taste Sensitivity. Foods 2021; 10:foods10112730. [PMID: 34829011 PMCID: PMC8618882 DOI: 10.3390/foods10112730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemesthesis is a part of the flavor experience of foods. Chemesthetic perception is studied to understand its effect on food-related behavior and health. Thus, the objective of this research was to study individual differences in chemesthetic perception. Our study involved sensory tests of three chemesthetic modalities (astringency, pungency, and cooling). Participants (N = 196) evaluated the intensity of samples in different concentrations using a line scale under sensory laboratory conditions. Aluminum ammonium sulfate, capsaicin, and menthol were used as the prototypic chemesthetic compounds. The participants were divided into sensitivity groups in different chemesthetic modalities by hierarchical clustering based on their intensity ratings. In addition, an oral chemesthesis sensitivity score was determined to represent the generalized chemesthesis sensitivity. The results showed that people can perceive chemesthesis on different intensity levels. There were significantly positive correlations between (1) sensitivity scores for oral chemesthesis and taste as well as (2) each chemesthesis and taste modalities. Moreover, based on the multinomial logistic regression model, significant interactions between oral chemesthesis and taste sensitivity were discovered. Our findings showed that people can be classified into different oral chemesthesis sensitivity groups. The methods and results of this study can be utilized to investigate associations with food-related behavior and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulo Roukka
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Sari Puputti
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; (S.P.); (H.A.); (U.H.)
| | - Heikki Aisala
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; (S.P.); (H.A.); (U.H.)
| | - Ulla Hoppu
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; (S.P.); (H.A.); (U.H.)
| | - Laila Seppä
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.R.); (L.S.)
| | - Mari A. Sandell
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (S.R.); (L.S.)
- Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland; (S.P.); (H.A.); (U.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-29-415-8234
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