Taste and food preferences as predictors of dietary practices in young women

Abstract

Objective: To investigate links between taste responses, self-reported food preferences and selected dietary outcomes in young women. Methods: Subjects were 159 women, with a mean age of 27.0 years. Taste responses were measured using aqueous solutions of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and sucrose. All subjects completed a 171-item food preference checklist, using nine-point category scales. Food preference data were reduced using principal components factor analyses, with the internal consistency of factor-based subscales established using Cronbach's alpha. Dietary intakes, available for a subset of 87 women, were based on 3 days of food records. Estimated intakes of carbohydrate, fibre and b-carotene were the key dietary outcome variables. Results: Genetically-mediated sensitivity to the bitter taste of PROP was associated with reduced preferences for Brussels sprouts, cabbage, spinach and coffee beverages. Higher preferences for sucrose in water were associated with increased preferences for sweet desserts. Food preferences, in turn, were associated with measures of current diet. Reduced acceptability of vegetables and fruits was associated with lower estimated intakes of carbohydrate, fibre and b-carotene. Conclusions: Taste responses to sucrose and PROP were predictive of some food preferences. Food preferences, in turn, were associated with food consumption patterns. Given that taste responsiveness to PROP is an inherited trait, there may be further links between genetic taste markers, eating habits and the selection of healthful diets.

Modifying children's food preferences: the effects of exposure and reward on acceptance of an unfamiliar vegetable

“…An alternative perspective focuses on hedonic factors, eg affective reactions to taste, texture or appearance. Attempts to explain why vegetable consumption is so low, in adults as well as children, have often highlighted taste preferences as a significant barrier (Drewnowski et al, 1999;Wardle, 1995). Children's liking for vegetables has been shown to be the most significant predictor of their intake (Gibson et al, 1998).…”

Human Metabolic Phenotypes Link Directly to Specific Dietary Preferences in Healthy Individuals

“…In particular, genetically mediated taste response to specific foods or ingredients is ultimately reflected in various dietary preferences. 2,3 Furthermore, genetic heritability has also been reported as a significant contributor in eating habits. 4 So far, no metabolic phenotype (metabotype) has ever been ascribed to an individual human dietary preference group.…”

Food Preference Patterns in a UK Twin Cohort

“…Individual food preferences have shown to be correlated with reported food intakes (Drewnowski et al, 1999;Duffy et al, 2009), suggesting they are prominent determinants of food intake and subsequently may have implications for the development of long-term chronic diseases that are increasingly prevalent in Western countries today.…”