https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9607-202X
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Abstract
Diet therapy for diabetes involves controlling carbohydrate intake in order to manage blood glucose concentrations. Simple carbohydrates, like sucrose, quickly and potently raise blood glucose when ingested, and are typically perceived as sweet. Sweetness is innately pleasurable and contributes to the positive hedonic evaluation of foods and beverages. There is some evidence to suggest that individuals with diabetes mellitus may be less able to detect sweetness, which could result in increased intake and, thus, more difficulty managing blood glucose. A systematic review that included PubMed, PsycInfo, and Embase databases was conducted. Inclusion criteria included observational studies that investigated the sweet taste function of adults with and without diabetes mellitus (Prospero CRD42021225058). The quality of the final included studies was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Evidence Analysis Library Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research tool. Eighteen studies that compared sweet taste thresholds, intensity ratings, or hedonic responses in adults both with and without diabetes were included. Differences in sweet taste thresholds, both detection and recognition, indicated that individuals with diabetes were less sensitive than healthy controls. The same findings were observed for intensity ratings. Only two studies examined hedonic responses; results were inconclusive.
Acknowledgements
None.
Authors’ contributions
Conception: S-YT, RMT; Literature search, article screening, data extraction, quality assessment: CH, CY, IR, JO, MD, NM, RM; Drafting manuscript: S-YT, RMT; Critical review and revision for intellectual content: all authors.
Disclosure statement
All authors declared no conflict of interests.
Funding
No funding was received to conduct this systematic review.