Gustatory perception of adults from a university institution of São Paulo

Author(s)

Maria Carolina Batista Campos Von Atzingen

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR)
• Defense date: 2011-02-23

Examining board members

Maria Elisabeth Machado Pinto e Silva; Jorge Herman Behrens; Solange Guidolin Canniatti Brazaca; Ana Maria Dianezi Gambardella; Maria de Fatima Nunes Marucci

• Advisor: Maria Elisabeth Machado Pinto e Silva

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate the relationship between thresholds detection of sweet and salty tastes, just-about-right and most accepted concentrations of sweet, salty, fat, sensitivity to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and gender, age and nutritional status. To investigate the relationship between PROP sensitivity and frequency of food intake. To verify the relationship between acceptance and just-about-right concentrations. Methods. Cross-sectional study with 123 adults (20 to 58 years). The variables were: threshold detection of sweet and salty tastes, most accepted and just-about-right concentrations of sugar, salt and fat, sensitivity to PROP. Nutritional status was determined by Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2 correspond to normal weight, and 25kg/m2, to overweight. In the threshold test the participant received 5 solutions of sucrose and 5 of sodium chloride (NaCl). The just-about-right and the most accepted concentrations were determined using 5 concentrations of sugar in orange juice, 5 of salt, 5 of fat in industrialized mashed potato. To determine the just-about-right concentration it was used the scores from the 7 cm scale and for acceptance testing, 7-point scale. The level of sensitivity to PROP was determined from tasting PROP and NaCl solutions, using a labeled magnitude scale. A food frequency questionnaire was used to identify frequency of food intake. Statistical analysis. The study variables were presented by mean, standard deviation and amplitude. Statistical analysis was conducted using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, 9 non-parametric analysis of ordinal data with repeated measures and Spearman correlation. The level of significance was 5 per cent. Results. The sweet taste thresholds were lower for individuals with overweight. Women assigned lower scores than men for the concentrations 1 and 3 per cent of sugar in the just-about-right test. For fat, just-about-right scores of individuals with normal weight were higher in relation to overweight. Individuals aged 31 to 40 years have given higher scores in acceptance test for the concentration 1 per cent of sugar. In just-about-right test of fat, the women\'s scores were higher than those of men. There was perfect correlation between ideal concentration and acceptance. 72 per cent of subjects were sensitive to PROP. There was no relationship between sensitivity to PROP and gender, age, nutritional status, and frequency of food intake, except for biscuits and cake. Conclusions. There was relationship between threshold detection of sweet taste and nutritional status, just-about-right concentration of sugar and gender, just-about-right concentration of fat and nutritional status, acceptance of salt and age. It was also observed relationship between sensitivity to PROP and intake of biscuits and cake and correlation between acceptance and just-about-right test (AU)