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 whole-mouth 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.
Highlights
Taste dysfunction is estimated to affect 26.3 million people in the US according to a 2016 nationwide survey [1]
A systemic review of the effects of aging on taste function reported that taste perception declines with age, the extent of decline differs across studies [4]
In order to further clarify the influence of age and sex on taste functions, in an Asian population, we investigated taste function in healthy Taiwanese, using the solution-based taste tests
Summary
Taste dysfunction is estimated to affect 26.3 million people in the US according to a 2016 nationwide survey [1]. The effect of aging on taste function is considered small and varies among. Age and sex on taste function individuals [3]. A systemic review of the effects of aging on taste function reported that taste perception declines with age, the extent of decline differs across studies [4]. It is known that taste preference, detection threshold, and reactivity to taste stimuli might differ between males and females [5]. The exact nature of these sex differences remains undetermined [5]. Gudziol and Hummel [6] used the ‘three-drop test’ to study taste function in a population of Europeans and found that taste functions in women were more sensitive than in men. Another study reported that sex affects the perception of sour and bitter tastes [7]
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