Relationship between Sucrose Taste Detection Thresholds and Preferences in Children, Adolescents, and Adults

• DOI: 10.3390/nu12071918
• Publication Date: 2020-06-29T09:28:56Z
• Authors: Sara Petty; Clara Salame; Julie A. Mennella; Marta Yanina Pepino
• Keywords: Detection threshold; Bitter Taste; Dietary Sucrose; Age groups; Sweet Taste

To address gaps in knowledge, our objectives were to (1) determine whether there are age-related changes sweet taste detection thresholds, as has been observed for preferences, and (2) thresholds preferences significantly related each other from childhood adulthood. We combined data studies that used the same validated psychophysical techniques measure sucrose threshold most preferred concentration children (n = 108), adolescents 172), adults 205). There significant effects of age group on both (p < 0.001) 0.001). While had higher than adolescents, who turn tended have adults, adolescent concentrations (all p 0.05). Among group, when combined, lowest detected was not correlated with > 0.18). These provide further evidence occur during adolescence cannot be explained by sensitivity these two dimensions undergo distinct developmental trajectories