Associations with Taste, Diet, and Health in an Italian Population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The SNP has previously been associated with sweet taste, diet, and health status, although never comprehensively in a single study. Also, associations between and sweet taste might be body mass index (BMI)-dependent. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive investigation of and sweet taste intensity and liking, food liking, and diet and health status whilst considering BMI.

METHODS

Five-hundred and fifty-four participants were recruited. Linear regression models were used to explore associations with sweet taste intensity and liking, food liking, and diet and health status. A secondary analysis stratified participants by BMI <25/≥25 kg/m.

RESULTS

The wildtype was associated with increased sweet taste intensity ( = 0.0345, B 1.29, SE 0.61) and liking ( = 0.021, B 0.25, SE 0.11). However, these associations only remained in BMI ≥25 individuals (intensity: = 0.037, B 1.29, SE 0.61, liking: = 0.008, B 0.46, SE 0.17). It was also associated with decreased diet quality ( = 0.03, B -0.27, SE 0.13) and reduced free sugar consumption but increased saturated fat consumption in BMI ≥25 individuals (free sugars: = 0.0416, B -0.8, SE 0.38, saturated fat: = 0.031, B 1.38, SE 0.62). There was no association with the mean liking score for sweet foods, although there were some associations with individual foods, which require further investigation. There were no associations with health status.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed an association between the wildtype and an increased intensity and liking of the sweet taste and a corresponding worse overall dietary quality. This study adds to previous evidence regarding how associations between and sweet taste are BMI-dependent.