A marker of growth differs between adolescents with high vs. low sugar preference

Abstract

Sweet preference is higher in childhood than adulthood but the mechanism for this developmental shift is not known. The objective of this study was to assess perceptual, physiological and eating habit differences between children preferring solutions high in sugar (high preference) and children preferring solutions low in sugar (low preference). We tested 143 children (11-to 15-years old) using sip and spit methodology to assess their hedonic profile, detection threshold, and perceived intensity of sucrose. Their plasma concentration of several hormones, a biomarker of bone-growth, body size, puberty stage, and dietary habits were measured. Eighty-eight children were classified as high preference and 53 were classified as low preference based on their hedonic ratings to a series of sucrose solutions. A marker of bone growth measured in urine and plasma leptin adjusted for body weight were significantly lower in the low preference group. Children with high and low preference patterns did not differ in sensory aspects of sucrose perception, nor did they differ in age, body mass index percentile, or dietary restraint. The change in sugar preference from high to low during adolescence appears to be associated with the cessation of growth.

Is more choice always worse? Age differences in the overchoice effect

“…The high level of satisfaction (both expected and actual) reported by children and seniors could, indeed, reflect their well documented sweet-tooth, that is their stronger preference for sugar, compared to adolescents and adults (e.g., Coldwell, Oswald, & Reed, 2009;Desor & Beauchamp, 1987;Walter & Soliah, 1995). In this regard, an interesting topic for future research could be to investigate whether the subjective attractiveness or utility (positive versus negative) of the choice item can mitigate the overchoice effect.…”

Flavor Perception and Preference Development in Human Infants

“…This hypothesis is supported by evidence that adolescents with higher sweet preferences also have higher levels of a biomarker for bone growth than do those with lower sweet preferences [21] . Because this biomarker increases during growth spurts, age-related declines in preference for sweet taste may correspond with cessation of physical growth [22,23] .…”

Innate and learned preferences for sweet taste during childhood

“…These responses are intensified during childhood and, we argue, reflect the nutritional problem of attracting children to foods that contain energy, minerals, and vitamins (e.g., mother's milk, fruits) during periods of maximal growth [13,14].…”