Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Sour and Umami Taste Perception Decreases with Age: Sex-Specific Analysis, Modulation by Genetic Variants and Taste-Preference Associations in 18 to 80 Year-Old Subjects

There is growing interest in relating taste perception to diet and healthy aging. However, there is still limited information on the influence of age, sex and genetics on taste acuity as well as on the relationship between taste perception and taste preferences. We have analysed the influence of age on the intensity rating of the five basic tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami (separately and jointly in a “total taste score”) and their modulation by sex and genetics in a relatively healthy population (men and women) aged 18–80 years (n = 1020 Caucasian European participants). Taste perception was determined by challenging subjects with solutions of the five basic tastes using standard prototypical tastants (6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP), NaCl, sucrose, monopotassium glutamate and citric acid) at 5 increasing concentrations (I to V). We also measured taste preferences and determined the polymorphisms of the genes taste 2 receptor member 38 (TAS2R38), taste 1 receptor member 2 (TAS2R38) and sodium channel epithelial 1 beta subunit (SCNN1B), as TAS2R38-rs713598, TAS1R2-rs35874116 and SCNN1B-rs239345 respectively. We found a statistically significant decrease in taste perception (“total taste score”) with increasing age for all the concentrations analysed. This association was stronger for the higher concentrations (p = 0.028; p = 0.012; p = 0.005; p = 4.20 × 10−5 and p = 1.48 × 10−7, for I to V in the multivariable-adjusted models). When we analysed taste qualities (using concentration V), the intensity rating of all the 5 tastes was diminished with age (p < 0.05 for all). This inverse association differed depending on the test quality, being higher for bitter (PROP) and sour. Women perceived taste significantly more intense than men (p = 1.4 × 10−8 for total taste score). However, there were differences depending on the taste, umami being the lowest (p = 0.069). There was a complex association between the ability to perceive a taste and the preference for the same. Significant associations were, nevertheless, found between a higher perception of sour taste and a higher preference for it in women. In contrast, the higher perception of sweet was significantly associated with a higher preference for bitter in both, men and women. The TAS2R38-rs713598 was strongly associated with bitter (PROP) taste (p = 1.38 × 10−50), having a significant interaction with sex (p = 0.030). The TAS1R2-rs35874116 was not significantly associated with sweet, whereas the SCNN1B-rs239345 was associated (p = 0.040) with salty taste. In conclusion, the inverse association between age and perceived taste intensity as well as the additional influence of sex and some genetic polymorphisms give rise to large inter-individual differences in taste perception and taste preferences that should be taken into account in future studies and for applications in precision nutrition for healthy aging.

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Taste Perception and Water Swallow Screen Results in Old-Old Women

Geriatrics ◽

10.3390/geriatrics3040083 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 83

Author(s):

Rachel Mulheren ◽

Ianessa Humbert ◽

Anne Cappola ◽

Linda Fried ◽

Marlís González-Fernández

Keyword(s):

Intensity Ratio ◽

Screen Test ◽

Taste Stimulus ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Taste Perception ◽

Taste Intensity ◽

Correct Identification ◽

Intensity Rating ◽

High Concentrations ◽

The Relationship

Changes in both swallowing and taste commonly occur in advanced age, though the relationship between the two is unknown. This study examined the association between a water swallow screen test and taste identification and intensity rating. Participants included 47 community-dwelling women aged 85–94 years. Participants completed three trials of a water swallow screen and were observed for signs of aspiration, which, if present, indicated failure. Four pure taste stimuli at low and high concentrations and water were presented, and participants selected one of five taste labels and rated their intensity on the generalized Labeled Magnitude Scale. Ratios of intensity ratings were computed for each taste stimulus to compare the perception of low and high concentrations. The association between water swallow screen failure, correct taste identification, and taste intensity ratio was evaluated with logistic regression modeling, with mediating factors of frailty and number of comorbidities. Failure of three water swallow screen trials was associated with a higher taste intensity ratio for caffeine (bitter) and a lower taste intensity ratio for sucrose (sweet). Correct identification of taste, frailty, and number of comorbidities were not associated with failure of any number of water swallow screen trials. Intensity ratings of certain tastes may be associated with swallowing in old-old women. Heightened vigilance in this population may be necessary to prevent complications related to dietary intake.

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Differences in Sweet Taste Perception and Its Association with the Streptococcus mutans Cariogenic Profile in Preschool Children with Caries

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12092592 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2592

Author(s):

Anna Jurczak ◽

Małgorzata Jamka-Kasprzyk ◽

Zuzanna Bębenek ◽

Małgorzata Staszczyk ◽

Paweł Jagielski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preschool Children ◽

Sweet Taste ◽

Assessment System ◽

Taste Perception ◽

Taste Preferences ◽

Microbiological Analysis ◽

Strong Positive Correlation ◽

Chi Square ◽

Icdas Ii ◽

Chi Square Test

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.

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Caregiver Status and Diet Quality in Community-Dwelling Adults

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13061803 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1803

Author(s):

Sharmin Hossain ◽

May A. Beydoun ◽

Michele K. Evans ◽

Alan B. Zonderman ◽

Marie F. Kuczmarski

Keyword(s):

Diet Quality ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Least Square ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Cross Sectional

Objective: We investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of diet quality with middle-aged caregiver status. Methods: Caregiving in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study (57.7% women, 62% African American (AA)) was measured at waves 3 (2009–2013) and 4 (2013–2017) (mean follow-up time 4.1 years). Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) derived from two separate 24 h diet recalls. Multivariable ordinary least square regression was performed for cross-sectional analyses of the association of wave 4 caregiving with wave 4 HEI-2010. Wave 3 caregiving was examined both cross-sectionally and with annual rate of change in HEI using mixed-effects linear regression Models. Multivariable models were adjusted for age, sex, and poverty status. Results: Cross-sectional analyses at wave 4 demonstrate an inverse association of frequent caregiving (“Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never”) for grandchildren with HEI-2010 total score (i.e., lower diet quality) among Whites (β = −2.83 ± 1.19, p = 0.03, Model 2) and AAs (β = −1.84 ± 0.79, p = 0.02,). The “cross-sectional” analysis pertaining to grandchildren caregiving frequency suggested that frequent caregiving (i.e., “Daily or Weekly” vs. “Never” (β = −2.90 ± 1.17, p = 0.04)) only among Whites was inversely related to HEI-2010 total score. Total HEI-2010 score was also related to caring (Model 1), for the elderly over “5 years vs. Never” among Whites (−7.31 ± 3.54, p = 0.04, Model 2). Longitudinally, we found slight potential improvement in diet quality over time (“Daily or Weekly” vs. Never by TIME interaction: +0.88 ± 0.38, p = 0.02) with frequent caregiving among Whites, but not so among AAs. Conclusions: Frequent caring for grandchildren had an inverse relationship with the diet quality of White and AA urban middle-aged caregivers, while caring for elderly was inversely linked to diet quality among Whites only. Longitudinal studies should address the paucity of research on caregivers’ nutritional quality.

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Soy Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Japanese Men and Women: JACC Study

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.813742 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Fangyu Yan ◽

Ehab S. Eshak ◽

Kokoro Shirai ◽

Jia-Yi Dong ◽

Isao Muraki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Dietary Intakes ◽

Japanese Men ◽

Men And Women ◽

Overweight Women ◽

Soy Foods ◽

A Prospective Study

The evidence on the protective effects of soy foods against type 2 diabetes has been inconsistent. We thought to examine the association between the dietary intakes of soy and the risk of diabetes in a prospective study encompassing 21,925 healthy Japanese men and women aged 40–79 years. A validated self-administered food frequency questionnaire determined the intakes of soy, and their associations with risk of type 2 diabetes were evaluated by the logistic regression analysis. During the 5-year follow-up period, we observed 593 new cases of type 2 diabetes (302 in men and 291 in women). There was no association between dietary intakes of soy foods and the risk of type 2 diabetes among men. Whereas among women, higher tofu intake was inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes; the multivariable odds ratios (ORs) of type 2 diabetes were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.69–1.21) for 3–4 times per week and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.49–0.94) for almost daily (p-trend = 0.03) in reference to those consuming tofu less than 3 times per week. Intakes of boiled beans and miso soup were not associated with the risk in both genders. The inverse association tended to be more evident among overweight women and postmenopaused women. In conclusion, the frequency of tofu intake was inversely associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes among women.

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Impact of muscle mass on blood glucose level

Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1515/jbcpp-2021-0316 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Murtada Taha ◽

Yaser A. AlNaam ◽

Thekra Al Maqati ◽

Lenah Almusallam ◽

Gharam Altalib ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Glucose ◽

Blood Glucose Level ◽

Muscle Mass ◽

Glucose Level ◽

Glucose Utilization ◽

Treatment Modalities ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Abstract Objectives At present, diabetes is one of the leading causes of mortality across the world. It was hypothesized that muscle mass could have a significant influence on blood glucose level and this corelation if established successfully could pave way for novel treatment modalities for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the present study, the association between muscle mass and blood glucose level was examined in a healthy population who was not having T2DM at baseline and was undergoing a regular course of exercise. Methods The clinical study was performed involving 53 healthy male populations between 10 and 60 years of age. The participants were sampled in accordance with the quantitative experimental study design, using nonprobability sampling techniques. The independent variable measured among the subjects included muscle mass and blood glucose level, using bioelectrical impedance and a simple glucometer respectively. Subgroup analysis amongst different substantial parameters including body mass index (BMI), myostatin inhibitor usage, and age factor that could affect the muscle mass and glucose level correlation were also studied simultaneously. Results The study findings demonstrated a negative correlation between muscle mass and glucose utilization levels. There was a significant difference in the mean muscle mass of the participants which was 36.2453, and the mean glucose utilization level which was 15.1493%. Pearson correlation between the muscle mass and percentage of glucose utilization of the participants indicated a significant difference (since p-value <0.05) between these two studied parameters. Conclusions The study finding suggests an inverse association of the skeletal muscle mass with blood glucose level which encourages the implication of muscle-building exercises as the preventive measure for T2DM.

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Impact of relative muscle power on hospitalization and all-cause mortality in older adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab230 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jose Losa-Reyna ◽

Julian Alcazar ◽

Jose Carnicero ◽

Ana Alfaro-Acha ◽

Carmen Castillo-Gallego ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Relative Power ◽

Men And Women ◽

Adjusted Risk ◽

Power Group ◽

All Cause Mortality

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lower-limb muscle power with mortality and hospitalization. Methods A total of 1928 subjects from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging were included. Muscle power was assessed with the 5-repetition STS test and subjects were classified into different groups of relative power (i.e. normalized to body mass) according to sex-specific tertiles and their inability to perform the test. Mean follow-up periods for hospitalization and all-cause mortality were 3.3 and 6.3 years, respectively. Results Compared to the high relative muscle power group, men with low (HR [95%CI]= 2.1 [1.2-3.6]) and women with very low and low (HR [95%CI]= 4.7 [3.0-7.4] and 1.8 [1.2-2.7]) relative power had an increased age-adjusted risk of hospitalization. After adjusting for several covariates (age, physical activity, BMI education, depression, comorbidities, disability and handgrip strength) these effects were attenuated (men and women with very low relative power: HR [95%CI]= 1.6 [0.9-2.9] and 2.8 [1.6-4.9]). The very low relative muscle power group had also an increased all-cause mortality risk (age-adjusted) in both men and women (HR [95%CI]= 2.3 [1.4-3.9] and 2.9 [1.6-5.3]). After adjusting for all the covariates, a significantly increased mortality risk was observed only in men (HR [95% CI]= 2.1 [1.1-3.8], (women HR [95% CI]= 1.6 [0.8-3.2]), with very low levels of relative power. Conclusion Relative muscle power was independently and negatively associated with mortality and hospitalization in older adults. An augmented all-cause mortality risk was noted in the lowest group of relative muscle power.

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Abstract P282: Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Modify the Association Between Sitting Time and Obesity?

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.131.suppl_1.p282 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Carolyn E Barlow ◽

Kerem Shuval ◽

Bijal Balasubramanian ◽

Darla E Kendzor ◽

Carrie E Finley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Body Fat ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Percent Body Fat ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Men And Women ◽

Waist Girth ◽

Product Term

Purpose: To examine the association between sitting time and markers of obesity in healthy men and women and explore the potential modifying role of estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 4,486 men and 1,845 women enrolled in the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study for the period 2010-2013 was conducted. Key exposures included self-reported sitting time and CRF. Sitting time was self-reported as 1) almost none of the time (about 0%), 2) approximately one quarter of the time (about 25%), 3) approximately half of the time (about 50%), 4) approximately three quarters of the time (about 75%), and 5) almost all of the time (about 100%). CRF was estimated from time spent on a treadmill during a graded exercise test. Obesity outcomes were defined in three ways: 1) waist girth (≥102 cm for men; ≥88 cm for women); 2) BMI (≥30 kg/m2); and 3) percent body fat (≥25% for men; ≥30% for women). Sex-specific multivariable models were constructed to examine the association between sitting time and each obesity outcome, separately, and adjusted for covariates including age, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. A cross product term of sitting time and CRF was included in the full model to assess the possibility of effect modification. Results: In unadjusted analysis, obesity outcomes significantly varied across categories of sitting time in men and women. In men, significant associations were observed between sitting 75% of the time or more and each measure of adiposity which remained after adjustment for CRF and other covariates. For example, men who sat about 100% of the time were more than two times as likely to be obese whether defined by waist girth (OR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.25, 5.47), or percent body fat (OR: 3.33; 95% CI: 1.35, 8.20) relative to men who sat about 0% of the time. Similar to the results for men, associations between sitting time and each measure of adiposity were seen in women when adjusted for age. However, when CRF and other covariates were added to the model, these associations were no longer statistically significant. In addition, the sitting time x CRF terms did not reach statistical significance for any obesity outcome. Conclusion: In this healthy population, the relation between obesity and sitting time varied by sex. Men who sat more were more likely to be obese by any definition. However, no significant associations were observed between sitting time and obesity among women after adjustment for CRF and other covariates. In addition, CRF did not appear to modify this association in either men or women. These results suggest that women, at least, can offset sedentary behavior by being fit. Further research is needed to understand the disparate effects of sitting time on obesity as seen in these healthy women. Furthermore, prospective research studies are needed to elucidate the causal association between obesity and sitting time.

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Gender effects on odor-induced taste enhancement and subsequent food consumption

Journal of Consumer Marketing ◽

10.1108/jcm-02-2019-3091 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 511-519

Author(s):

Yamen Koubaa ◽

Amira Eleuch

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Free Food ◽

Gender Effects ◽

Taste Perception ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Men And Women ◽

Content Type ◽

Gender Specific ◽

Taste Enhancement ◽

Detection And Recognition

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to test for gender-specific effects on odor-induced taste enhancement and subsequent food consumption in olfactory food marketing. Design/methodology/approach Lab experiments conducted among female and male participants using vanillin as a stimulus and ratings of sweetness, taste pleasantness and eating of sugar-free food as measures. Findings Odor-induced taste enhancement is gender-specific. Female consumers outperform male consumers in olfactory reaction and sweetness perception. While men outperform women in food consumption. Research limitations/implications Odor intensity was set to the concentration level of 0.00005per cent according to the findings from (Fujimaru and Lim, 2013). The authors believe that this intensity level is appropriate for both men and women. Still, there may be some gender effects on intensity levels, which are not explored here. The author’s test for the effects of one personal factor, gender and odor-induced taste enhancement of sugar-free food. The authors think that investigating the combined effects of more personal factors such as age, culture and so on adds to the accuracy of the results. Practical implications It seems that the stronger sensory capacities of women in terms of odor detection and recognition already confirmed in the literature extends to the cross-modal effects of this sensory detection and recognition on taste enhancement. It seems appropriate to tailor olfactory food advertising according to the gender of the target audience. Originality/value Odor-induced taste enhancement is still a novel subject in marketing. While most of the research has investigated the effects of smelling congruent odors on taste perception and food consumption among mixed groups of men and women, the value of this paper lies in the investigation of the potential moderating effects of gender on this relationship.

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Effects of social network diversity in the disablement process: a comparison of causal inference methods and an outcome-wide approach to the Indonesian Family Life Surveys, 2007–2015

International Journal for Equity in Health ◽

10.1186/s12939-020-01238-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Julia Schröders ◽

Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi ◽

Maria Nilsson ◽

Mark Nichter ◽

Miguel San Sebastian

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Effects ◽

Family Life ◽

Process Model ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Men And Women ◽

Disablement Process ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background Social networks (SN) have been proven to be instrumental for healthy aging and function as important safety nets, particular for older adults in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the importance of interpreting health outcomes in terms of SN, in many LMICs – including Indonesia – epidemiological studies and policy responses on the health effects of SN for aging populations are still uncommon. Using outcome-wide multi-method approaches to longitudinal panel data, this study aims to outline more clearly the role of SN diversity in the aging process in Indonesia. We explore whether and to what degree there is an association of SN diversity with adult health outcomes and investigate potential gender differences, heterogeneous treatment effects, and effect gradients along disablement processes. Methods Data came from the fourth and fifth waves of the Indonesian Family Life Survey fielded in 2007–08 and 2014–15. The analytic sample consisted of 3060 adults aged 50+ years. The primary exposure variable was the diversity of respondents’ SN at baseline. This was measured through a social network index (SNI), conjoining information about household size together with a range of social ties with whom respondents had active contact across six different types of role relationships. Guided by the disablement process model, a battery of 19 outcomes (8 pathologies, 5 impairments, 4 functional limitations, 2 disabilities) were included into analyses. Evidence for causal effects of SN diversity on health was evaluated using outcome-wide multivariable regression adjustment (RA), propensity score matching (PSM), and instrumental variable (IV) analyses. Results At baseline, 60% of respondents had a low SNI. Results from the RA and PSM models showed greatest concordance and that among women a diverse SN was positively associated with pulmonary outcomes and upper and lower body functions. Both men and women with a high SNI reported less limitations in performing activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) tasks. A high SNI was negatively associated with C-reactive protein levels in women. The IV analyses yielded positive associations with cognitive functions for both men and women. Conclusions Diverse SN confer a wide range of strong and heterogeneous long-term health effects, particularly for older women. In settings with limited formal welfare protection, intervening in the SN of older adults and safeguarding their access to diverse networks can be an investment in population health, with manifold implications for health and public policy.

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“Now I see it, now I don’t”: Determining Threshold Levels of Facial Emotion Recognition for Use in Patient Populations

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617715000557 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (7) ◽

pp. 568-572 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Isabelle Chiu ◽

Regina I. Gfrörer ◽

Olivier Piguet ◽

Manfred Berres ◽

Andreas U. Monsch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emotion Recognition ◽

Facial Emotion Recognition ◽

Facial Emotion ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Basic Emotions ◽

Threshold Levels ◽

Facial Stimuli ◽

Intensity Rating

AbstractThe importance of including measures of emotion processing, such as tests of facial emotion recognition (FER), as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is being increasingly recognized. In clinical settings, FER tests need to be sensitive, short, and easy to administer, given the limited time available and patient limitations. Current tests, however, commonly use stimuli that either display prototypical emotions, bearing the risk of ceiling effects and unequal task difficulty, or are cognitively too demanding and time-consuming. To overcome these limitations in FER testing in patient populations, we aimed to define FER threshold levels for the six basic emotions in healthy individuals. Forty-nine healthy individuals between 52 and 79 years of age were asked to identify the six basic emotions at different intensity levels (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the prototypical emotion). Analyses uncovered differing threshold levels across emotions and sex of facial stimuli, ranging from 50% up to 100% intensities. Using these findings as “healthy population benchmarks”, we propose to apply these threshold levels to clinical populations either as facial emotion recognition or intensity rating tasks. As part of any comprehensive social cognition test battery, this approach should allow for a rapid and sensitive assessment of potential FER deficits. (JINS, 2015, 21, 568–572)

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