University of Sussex
Browse
__smbhome.uscs.susx.ac.uk_lh89_Desktop_Late Research activity sheets_Martin Yeomans_Already uploaded_Food_Study_Submission_R2.pdf (252.15 kB)

Chemosensory abilities in consumers of a western-style diet

Download (252.15 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 02:27 authored by Richard J Stevenson, Robert A Boakes, Megan J Oaten, Martin YeomansMartin Yeomans, Memhet Mahmut, Heather M Francis
People vary in their habitual diet and also in their chemosensory abilities. In this study we examined whether consumption of a Western-style diet, rich in saturated fat and added sugar, is associated with either poorer or different patterns of chemosensory perception, relative to people who consume a healthier diet. Participants were selected based on a food frequency questionnaire, which established whether they were likely to consume a diet either higher or lower in saturated fat and added sugar. Eighty-seven participants were tested for olfactory ability (threshold, discrimination, identification), gustatory ability (PROP sensitivity, taste intensity, quality and hedonics), and flavour processing (using dairy fat-sugar-odour mixtures). A Western-style diet was associated with poorer odour identification ability, greater PROP sensitivity, poorer fat discrimination, different patterns of sweetness taste enhancement, and hedonic differences in taste and flavour perception. No differences were evident for odour discrimination or threshold, in perception of taste intensity/quality (excluding PROP) or the ability of fats to affect flavour perception. The significant relationships were of small to moderate effect size, and would be expected to work against consuming a healthier diet. The discussion focuses on whether these diet-related differences precede adoption of a Western-style diet and/or are a consequence of it.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Chemical Senses

ISSN

0379-864X

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Issue

6

Volume

41

Page range

505-513

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-08-09

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2017-04-09

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-08-09

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC