The threshold of sweet taste recognition among a sample of Moroccan population

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmine Guennoun ◽  
Nada Benajiba ◽  
Khalid Elkari ◽  
Amina Bouziani ◽  
Laila Elammari ◽  
...  

Purpose Sugar consumption in Morocco is high, which is involved in triggering serious health conditions. Hence, assessing the recognition threshold of sweet taste among Moroccans is strongly needed. This study aims to determine the threshold of sweet taste recognition and to evaluate differences by sex, age and body mass index among a sample of Moroccan population. Design/methodology/approach This single-blind trial was conducted among 199 healthy participants to determine the sweet taste. Age and anthropometric characteristics were registered. Nine sucrose solutions of the following concentrations (0; 0.111; 0.333; 1; 3; 9; 27; 81; 243 mmol/L) were prepared. Sweet taste perception thresholds were determined based on the validated 3-alternative forced choice test method. Findings The average age of the sample population was 21.5 ± 26.1. And more than half (51.7%) detected the taste at the concentration of 9 mmol/L, while 91.9% recognized it at a concentration of 27 mmol/L. In terms of sex, the recognition of taste was not different between females and males (p > 0.05). The mean values of the threshold among women were significantly lower (20 ± 20.8 mmol/L) compared to men (23.9 ± 33.2 mmol/L). The age group 49–59 years old had the lowest threshold with a mean of 13.4 ± 10.2 mmol/L, and the groups with BMI in the overweight category had mean of 16.9 ± 18.2 mmol/L. However, no statistical difference was observed among either age groups or BMI categories. Originality/value The sweet recognition threshold among the studied population is high. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to educate the population about the necessity of a progressive reduction of sugar in food items to combat non-communicable disorders.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmine Guennoun ◽  
Nada Benajiba ◽  
Habiba Bajit ◽  
Amina Bouziani ◽  
Laila Elammari ◽  
...  

Purpose This study aims to determine the threshold of salt taste recognition and to evaluate differences by sex, age and body mass index (BMI) among a sample of Moroccan population. Design/methodology/approach A simple-blind experimental study was conducted among 201 healthy subjects to determine the threshold of salt taste recognition and to evaluate differences by sex, age and BMI among a sample of Moroccan population. The threshold of salt taste recognition was determined based on the validated the three alternatives forced choice method. A total of 11 prepared solutions of sodium chloride at different concentrations ranging from 0–500 mmol/L were used. Findings The average of the total population was 14.6 ± 10.9 mmol/L. And, 84% of the total population recognized the salt taste at the concentration of 15 mmol/L. Women participants detected the salt taste at a lower rate (53% versus 38% at 8 mmol/L, p = 0.02, in women and men, respectively). The mean values of the threshold among women was significantly lower (12.6 ± 8.1 mmol/L) compared to men (16.7 ± 12.8 mmol/L), p < 0.001. No statistical difference was obtained among either age groups or BMI categories. Originality/value The present study showed that the average threshold of salt taste recognition is high, and that it is even higher in men compared to women. At a community level, a progressive reduction of salt in food items is recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (11) ◽  
pp. 2883-2900
Author(s):  
Ershad Sheibani ◽  
Golshan Matinfar ◽  
Sahar Jazaeri ◽  
Abdorreza Mohammadi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influences of the interactions of taste, colour and labelling on sensory perception, liking and identification of saffroned products. Design/methodology/approach The consumer and discrimination tests (N=120, 18, 25, 78, for Experiments 1–4, respectively) were conducted. The analyses of discrimination tests were performed using the Thurstonian model and R-index. The results from consumer studies were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, penalty analysis and correlation matrix. Findings The study revealed that saffron can interact with the perception of sour and bitter taste and has no significant effects on the sweetness. The colour and labelling generated expectations for quality and sweetness of the samples. When the disparity between the expectation and actual experience was occurred resulted in contrast/assimilation effects on the hedonic ratings and negatively impacted consumer acceptability of the product. Practical implications This study showed that the visual cues can modulate the expectation for particular sensory perceptions and also affect the hedonic experiences. Saffron adulteration can be identified by the consumers and can result in a significant decrease in the acceptability of the products. Hence, the practice of substituting saffron with ingredients with a similar colour in these products can be detrimental for business. Additionally, it was revealed that saffron colour is associated with the expected and actual sweet taste perception. Therefore, it is possible to manipulate yellow colour cues to reduce sweeteners in different food products that contain saffron. Originality/value The sensory characteristics and consumer perception of saffron have been rarely studied. This study revealed that flavour perception and quality determination of saffroned foods involves the combinations of different sensory modalities and cognitive (expectancy) inputs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Mimoza Moza Shkodra ◽  
Arben Bislimi

The basic purpose of this paper is to distinguish between the motor characteristics of students (male-female) and 12-year-old age groups of SHFMU "Selami Hallaci" in Gjilan.The sample of this research includes a total of 100 (50 female and 50 male) students who undergo regular physical education and sports two hours a week.6 basic motor variables were applied in the research, and based on it, significant differences were obtained.To confirm the differences between students in the basic motor variables, the T-test method was used. Based on the results obtained through this method, valid changes were realized in some of the basic motor variables of. Significant values were obtained in estimating the correlation in some of the motor variables.All these important differences between the mean values in favor of men confirm and confirm that students (men) are more active and agile than the girls tested.


1960 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gutinar Skude

SummaryEight sweet tasters for P. T. G. found in a preceding investigation were retested with P. T. G. solutions by using a discriminating test method. Variations in the course of a single day and during longer periods were studied. It was observed that the consistency of sweet tasting for this compound varied intraindividually as well as interindividually. One of the females showed a high consistency of taste sensations for different concentrations. Three persons never reported a sweet taste sensation of a supraliminal concentration, although one year earlier they had described different P. T. C. solutions as sweet or sweet and bitter at the same time. The remaining four persons showed a varying consistency of the number of solutions stated as sweet tasting and the concentrations of these sweet tasting solutions. The reasons for the variations of the consistency are unknown. Such inconsistencies influence the result of investigations into inheritance of the trait.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-334
Author(s):  
V. N. Peskov ◽  
N. A. Petrenko ◽  
V. Yu. Reminnyi

Abstract We study size-at-age and sexual variability of morphometric characteristics of the marsh frog. According to the size of the body, males were divided into three size-age groups (juvenis, subadultus, adultus), females — into four groups (juvenis, subadultus, adultus, adultus-I). We found that the chronological age of frogs (skeletochronology) does not always correspond to their biological age (size and proportions of the body). We noted that the semi-adult males are reliably larger than females by mean values of 26 studied morphometric characters. Males and females of “adultus” group do not differ by linear body size, significant differences were found in body proportions (7 characters). For the females of “adultus-I” group, the mean values of 26 characters are significantly larger than for “adultus” males. The results of our study showed that with the age of the marsh frog, the level of exhibition, directionality and structure of morphometric sex differences changes.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2592
Author(s):  
Anna Jurczak ◽  
Małgorzata Jamka-Kasprzyk ◽  
Zuzanna Bębenek ◽  
Małgorzata Staszczyk ◽  
Paweł Jagielski ◽  
...  

The aim of the study was to verify the hypothesis about differences in sweet taste perception in the group of preschool children with and without caries, and to determine its relationship with cariogenic microbiota and the frequency of sweets consumption in children. The study group included of 63 children aged 2–6 years: 32 with caries and 31 without caries. The study consisted of collecting questionnaire data and assessment of dental status using the decayed, missing, filled in primary teeth index (dmft) and the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II). The evaluation of sweet taste perception was carried out using a specific method that simultaneously assessed the level of taste preferences and the sensitivity threshold for a given taste. The microbiological analysis consisted of the assessment of the quantitative and qualitative compositions of the oral microbiota of the examined children. The sweet taste perception of children with caries was characterized by a lower susceptibility to sucrose (the preferred sucrose solution concentration was >4 g/L) compared to children without caries (in the range ≤ 4 g/L, p = 0.0015, chi-square test). A similar relationship was also observed for frequent snacking between meals (p = 0.0038, chi-square test). The analysis of studied variables showed the existence of a strong positive correlation between the perception of sweet taste and the occurrence and intensity of the cariogenic process (p = 0.007 for dmft; and p = 0.012 for ICDAS II), as well as the frequency of consuming sweets (p ≤ 0.001 for frequent and repeated consumption of sweets during the day, Spearman test) in children with caries. Additionally, children with an elevated sucrose taste threshold were more than 10-times more likely to develop S. mutans presence (OR = 10.21; 95% CI 3.11–33.44). The results of this study suggest the future use of taste preferences in children as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of increased susceptibility to caries through microbial dysbiosis towards specific species of microorganisms.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Aicha El Allam ◽  
Sara El Fakihi ◽  
Hicham Tahoune ◽  
Karima Sahmoudi ◽  
Houria Bousserhane ◽  
...  

The number of circulating lymphocytes is altered in a number of diseases including either increase (lymphocytosis) or decrease (lymphocytopenia). Therefore, the assessment of total blood lymphocyte numbers and the relative distribution of lymphocyte subsets is a critical front-line tool in the clinical diagnosis of a number of diseases, including pediatric diseases and disorders. However, the interpretation of this data requires comparison of patient’s results to reliable reference values. Blood lymphocyte subpopulation numbers are also subject to genetic polymorphisms, immunogenic and environmental factors and vary greatly between populations. While the best practice reference values should be established within local representative populations of healthy subjects, to date, Caucasian reference values are used in Morocco due to the absence of indigenous reference values. Potential differences in blood lymphocyte subpopulation reference values between Caucasian versus Moroccan populations can adversely affect the diagnosis of pediatric and childhood diseases and disorders such as primary immunodeficiency (PID) in Morocco. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the age-stratified normal reference values of blood lymphocyte subsets for the pediatric Moroccan population. METHODS: We measured the concentration of lymphocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry from 83 Moroccan healthy subjects stratified into 5 age groups of 0–1, 1–2, 2–6, 6–12 and > 12–18 (adult). RESULTS: The absolute and relative amounts of the main lymphocyte subsets of T-cells, B cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells were measured and compared to previously described reference values from Cameroonian, Turkish, American and Dutch populations. Additionally, we also observed an age-related decline in the absolute population sizes of lymphocyte subsets within our study group. Relative proportions of CD3+CD4+ helper T lymphocytes decreased with increasing age and by 12 years-adult age, both proportions of CD3+CD4+ helper T lymphocytes and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, as well as CD3-CD19+ B lymphocytes were also decreased. Finally, we compared the median values and range of our Moroccan study group with that of published results from Cameroon, Turkey, USA and Netherlands and observed significant differences in median and mean values of absolute number and relative proportions of lymphocyte subsets especially at 0–1 years and 1–2 years age groups. Above age 12 years, the Moroccan values were lower. For NK cells, the Moroccan values are also lower. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study have a significant impact in improving the threshold values of the references intervals routinely used in the diagnosis of paediatric diseases such as PIDs or mother-to-child transmitted HIV within the Moroccan population.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 878
Author(s):  
Arnaud Bernard ◽  
Johanne Le Beyec-Le Bihan ◽  
Loredana Radoi ◽  
Muriel Coupaye ◽  
Ouidad Sami ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of bariatric surgery on fat and sweet taste perceptions and to determine the possible correlations with gut appetite-regulating peptides and subjective food sensations. Women suffering from severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m2) were studied 2 weeks before and 6 months after a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG, n = 32) or a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, n = 12). Linoleic acid (LA) and sucrose perception thresholds were determined using the three-alternative forced-choice procedure, gut hormones were assayed before and after a test meal and subjective changes in oral food sensations were self-reported using a standardized questionnaire. Despite a global positive effect of both surgeries on the reported gustatory sensations, a change in the taste sensitivity was only found after RYGB for LA. However, the fat and sweet taste perceptions were not homogenous between patients who underwent the same surgery procedure, suggesting the existence of two subgroups: patients with and without taste improvement. These gustatory changes were not correlated to the surgery-mediated modifications of the main gut appetite-regulating hormones. Collectively these data highlight the complexity of relationships between bariatric surgery and taste sensitivity and suggest that VSG and RYGB might impact the fatty taste perception differently.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Love M. Chile ◽  
Xavier M. Black ◽  
Carol Neill

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of social isolation and the factors that create social isolation for residents of inner-city high-rise apartment communities. We critically examine how the physical environment and perceptions of safety in apartment buildings and the inner-city implicate the quality of interactions between residents and with their neighbourhood community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used mixed-methods consisting of survey questionnaires supplemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions using stratified random sampling to access predetermined key strata of inner-city high-rise resident population. Using coefficient of correlation we examine the significance of the association between social isolation, age and ethnicity amongst Auckland's inner-city high-rise residents. Findings – The authors found the experience and expression of social isolation consistent across all age groups, with highest correlation between functional social isolation and “being student”, and older adults (60+ years), length of tenure in current apartment and length of time residents have lived in the inner-city. Research limitations/implications – As a case study, we did not seek in this research to compare the experience and expressions of social isolation in different inner-city contexts, nor of inner-city high-rise residents in New Zealand and other countries, although these will be useful areas to explore in future studies. Practical implications – This study is a useful starting point to build evidence base for professionals working in health and social care services to develop interventions that will help reduce functional social isolation amongst young adults and older adults in inner-city high-rise apartments. This is particularly important as the inner-city population of older adults grow due to international migration, and sub-national shifts from suburbs to the inner-cities in response to governmental policies of urban consolidation. Originality/value – By identifying two forms of social isolation, namely functional and structural social isolation, we have extended previous analysis of social isolation and found that “living alone” or structural social isolation did not necessarily lead to functional social isolation. It also touched on the links between functional social isolation and self-efficacy of older adults, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document