Division of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, Wakayama Medical University Hospital.
The First Department of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University.
J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2022;68(6):504-512. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.68.504.
Fat taste has recently attracted attention as the 'sixth taste.' However, the relationship between fat and sweet taste in Japanese obesity has not yet been examined, and no reports have ascertained whether improvement of fat taste can be obtained by weight loss. Patients were recruited into obesity group (BMI≥30 kg/m; n=15) or control group (BMI<25 kg/m; n=11). They answered a questionnaire on smoking, eating behavior, lifestyle, and food frequency, and their taste thresholds were measured (fat, umami, and sweet). The obesity group was tested twice (on admission and before discharge). They showed several eating behavior abnormalities, higher total energy intake, and less physical activity. There were some gender differences: physical inactivity was more prominent in females, and high total energy intake in males, which correlates with fat taste rank. Fat taste rank was significantly higher in obesity group, whereas taste rank of umami and sweet were not significantly different. Gender-specific analysis of fat taste rank revealed only male obesity showed significant difference. Reduced sensitivity of fat may be specific to male gender or obesity by overeating, but not by physical inactivity. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that fat taste was a factor relevant to obesity. Fat taste significantly improved after a weight loss program, with average duration of 11.3 d. Japanese obese people, especially males and those who are obese by overeating, have reduced sensitivity to fat taste. This can be recovered by even a short-term weight loss program.
脂肪味道最近作为“第六种味道”受到关注。然而，日本肥胖人群中脂肪与甜味之间的关系尚未得到检验，也没有报告确定减肥是否可以改善脂肪味道。
患者被招募到肥胖组（BMI≥30 kg/m；n=15）或对照组（BMI<25 kg/m；n=11）。他们回答了关于吸烟、饮食行为、生活方式和食物频率的问卷，并测量了他们的味觉阈值（脂肪、鲜味和甜味）。肥胖组进行了两次测试（入院时和出院前）。他们表现出一些饮食行为异常、总能量摄入较高和较少的体力活动。存在一些性别差异：女性体力活动不足更为明显，男性总能量摄入较高，这与脂肪味道等级相关。肥胖组的脂肪味道等级明显较高，而鲜味和甜味的味道等级没有显著差异。对脂肪味道等级的性别特异性分析表明，只有男性肥胖症存在显著差异。
脂肪敏感性降低可能是男性特有的，或者是由于暴饮暴食导致的肥胖，但不是由于体力活动不足。多元逻辑回归分析表明，脂肪味道是肥胖的一个相关因素。在进行为期 11.3 天的减肥计划后，脂肪味道明显改善。日本肥胖人群，尤其是男性和因暴饮暴食而肥胖的人群，对脂肪味道的敏感性降低。即使是短期的减肥计划也可以恢复这种敏感性。
