Abstract
BackgroundThe present study aimed to determine if salty and sweet taste preferences in children are related to each other, to markers of growth, and to genetic differences.MethodsWe conducted a 2-day, single-blind experimental study using the Monell two-series, forced-choice, paired-comparison tracking method to determine taste preferences. The volunteer sample consisted of a racially/ethnically diverse group of children, 5–10 years of age (n = 108), and their mothers (n = 83). After excluding those mothers who did not meet eligibility and children who did not understand or comply with study procedures, the final sample was 101 children and 76 adults. The main outcome measures were most preferred concentration of salt in broth and crackers; most preferred concentration of sucrose in water and jelly; reported dietary intake of salty and sweet foods; levels of a bone growth marker; anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, and percent body fat; and TAS1R3 (sweet taste receptor) genotype.ResultsChildren preferred higher concentrations of salt in broth and sucrose in water than did adults, and for both groups, salty and sweet taste preferences were significantly and positively correlated. In children, preference measures were related to reported intake of sodium but not of added sugars. Children who were tall for their age preferred sweeter solutions than did those that were shorter and percent body fat was correlated with salt preference. In mothers but not in children, sweet preference correlated with TAS1R3 genotype.Conclusions and RelevanceFor children, sweet and salty taste preferences were positively correlated and related to some aspects of real-world food intake. Complying with recommendations to reduce added sugars and salt may be more difficult for some children, which emphasizes the need for new strategies to improve children's diets.
Highlights
Many illnesses of modern society are, in part, the consequence of poor food choices
The funders had no role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication
It has been argued that evolutionarily driven taste preferences predispose children to consume such diets, with the liking of sweetness attracting them to mothers’ milk and fruits, and the liking of salty taste attracting them to sodium and possibly other minerals needed for bone growth [10]
Summary
Many illnesses of modern society are, in part, the consequence of poor food choices. foods high in salt (NaCl) and refined sugars contribute to poor health [1], people of all ages consume them in excessive amounts [2,3,4], in part because these foods have powerful hedonic appeal, especially for children [5]. It has been argued that evolutionarily driven taste preferences predispose children to consume such diets, with the liking of sweetness attracting them to mothers’ milk and fruits, and the liking of salty taste attracting them to sodium and possibly other minerals needed for bone growth [10]. From this perspective, humans evolved a desire to consume once rare calorie- and sodium-rich foods [11], and children’s basic biology programs them to like sweet sources of energy and salty minerals during periods of growth [12,13]. The present study aimed to determine if salty and sweet taste preferences in children are related to each other, to markers of growth, and to genetic differences
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