Differences in taste detection thresholds between normal-weight and obese young adults

Abstract

Conclusion: Compared with normal-weight individuals, obese young adults exhibited a significantly higher taste threshold for salty taste. Smoking also affected taste functions in this population. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in taste detection thresholds between normal-weight and obese young adults. Methods: Taste threshold was measured using electrogustometry (EGM) and chemically with sucrose, NaCl, citric acid, and quinine hydrochloride in 41 volunteers in their twenties, 23 with body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m² (normal-weight group) and 18 with BMI >25 kg/m² (obese group). Results: BMI was significantly higher in the obese than in the normal-weight group (p < 0.05). The obese group exhibited significantly higher EGM thresholds than the normal-weight group on the right (p < 0.05) and left (p < 0.05) posterior tongue. In chemical taste tests, the obese group had higher thresholds for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes than the normal-weight group, although the difference in threshold was significant only for salty taste (p < 0.05). Smoking had an impact on taste threshold, with smokers having higher thresholds than non-smokers, with significantly higher EGM thresholds on the right anterior and posterior and the left anterior tongue (p < 0.05 each).

Keywords:

• Electrogustometry
• salty taste
• smoking
• chemical taste test

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIP) (no. 2011-0030072). We thank Jung A Hong and Jae-shin Han for their technical assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest.