Influence of age and sex on taste function of healthy subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age and sex on the taste functions of healthy Taiwanese. Subjects were divided into groups based on their sex and age: 20-39 years, 40-59 years, or � 60 years. We evaluated the taste functions of subjects using the whole mouth suprathreshold taste test and the taste quad test. For the wholemouth test, subjects were instructed to sip and swish sweet, sour, salty, and bitter solutions, each at 5 different suprathreshold concentrations. Each subject was required to indicate the taste quality, and to rate the intensity and unpleasantness/pleasantness of each taste of the solutions. For the quad test, the 4 quadrants of the tongue surface were tested by applying a drop of one concentration of sweet, sour, salty, or bitter solutions 6 times. Subjects then indicated the taste quality and rated the intensity of the solution. We found that in the whole mouth test, the total correct identification score dropped with age, but the ability to identify sweet and salty qualities was not affected by age. No differences were found between males and females, except women scored better than men for sweetness in the 40-59 years age group. The intensity rating scores were higher in the 20-39 years age group, regardless of sex. With regard to the pleasantness of tastants, female subjects in the 20-39 years age group found sweet solution more pleasant than the older subjects did. In the quad test, the total correct identification score decreased with age, but there were no differences between males and females. Thus, our findings showed that both age and sex affected the taste functions of healthy Taiwanese to some extent, and differences were dependent on tongue region and taste quality.

How Individual Variations in the Perception of Basic Tastes and Astringency Relate with Dietary Intake and Preferences for Fruits and Vegetables

“…In line with previous reports, it was observed that men and women differ in their taste sensitivities, with women being more sensitive to sweet and salty than men. Some studies, comparing taste function between sexes, also reported higher taste sensitivity in females, comparatively to males (e.g., [27][28][29]), although some others only found differences between some age groups [30]. Different methodologies for assessing taste function and evaluations in populations with different genotypes, food habits, and health conditions may explain these diverse results among studies.…”

Longitudinal trajectories and determinants of human fungiform papillae density

“…Previous reports on the associations between sex, taste, and fungiform papillae density have shown conflicting findings. Some studies have reported no sex related differences in fungiform papillae density [ 29 ] or taste [ 44 ], while others did find such differences [ 4 , 6 , 28 ]. Women have been shown to have higher taste sensitivity, and supertasters may be more common among women [ 34 ].…”

Taste Sensitivity of Elderly People Is Associated with Quality of Life and Inadequate Dietary Intake

“…Taste dysfunction has rarely been investigated in Asian populations [ 19 ]. Significant differences have been observed in taste recognition thresholds between different ethnic groups in the same region [ 20 ].…”

“…However, this study was conducted only in individuals aged younger than 65 years. Recent studies reported that age and sex are associated with taste alterations in 240 healthy Taiwanese individuals [ 19 ]. However, in this study, none of the individuals’ eating habits and nutritional intake were considered, and only four basic tastes (sweet, salty, bitter, and sour) were measured.…”