The Effect of Artificial Sweeteners Use on Sweet Taste Perception and Weight Loss Efficacy: A Review

Excessive consumption of sugar-rich foods is currently one of the most important factors that has led to the development of the global pandemic of obesity. On the other hand, there is evidence that obesity contributes to reduced sensitivity to sweet taste and hormonal changes affecting appetite, leading to an increased craving for sweets. A high intake of sugars increases the caloric value of the diet and, consequently, leads to weight gain. Moreover, attention is drawn to the concept of the addictive properties of sugar and sugary foods. A potential method to reduce the energy value of diet while maintaining the sweet taste is using non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). NNS are commonly used as table sugar substitutes. This wide group of chemical compounds features high sweetness almost without calories due to its high sweetening strength. NNS include aspartame, acesulfame-K, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (neohesperidin DC), neotame, taumatin, and advantame. The available evidence suggests that replacing sugar with NNS may support weight control. However, the effect of NNS on the regulation of appetite and sweet taste perception is not clear. Therefore, the review aimed to summarize the current knowledge about the use of NNS as a potential strategy for weight loss and their impact on sweet taste perception. Most studies have demonstrated that consumption of NNS-sweetened foods does not increase sweetness preference orenergy intake. Nonetheless, further research is required to determine the long-term effects of NNS on weight management.     

Sweet,Salty, and Umami Taste Sensitivity and the Hedonic Perception of Taste Sensations in Adolescent Females with Anorexia Nervosa

Objective: The aim of this study was to perform analysis of sensitivity to sweet, salty, and umami tastes based on three measurement methods and of the hedonic perception of taste sensations in adolescent females with anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of the research was to confirm the results of other authors in terms of the perception of sweet and salty taste in patients with AN, and then develop knowledge about the perception of umami taste, which is still insufficiently studied. Method: A total of 110 females with an age ranging from 13 to 19 years, including 50 newly diagnosed patients with a restrictive subtype of AN and 60 healthy controls participated in gustatory research involving analyses of taste perception (recognition thresholds, ability to identify the taste correctly, taste intensity, and hedonic response) applying the sip and spit method. Results: Females with AN showed reduced sensitivity to salty taste and increased sensitivity to umami taste and, more often than healthy controls, wrongly classified the taste of solutions with a low sucrose concentration. Patients with AN assessed the sodium chloride and monosodium glutamate tastes less negatively than did control participants, and they did not show differences in their hedonic assessment of sucrose. Conclusions: The taste sensitivity alterations in females with AN demonstrated in this paper do not entail decreased hedonic assessment of taste experiences. Based on our results, we cannot consider the observed variation in taste sensitivity in patients with AN to be a factor that increases their negative attitude toward food consumption.     

The Role of Sweet Taste in Satiation and Satiety

Increased energy consumption, especially increased consumption of sweet energy-dense food, is thought to be one of the main contributors to the escalating rates in overweight individuals and obesity globally. The individual’s ability to detect or sense sweetness in the oral cavity is thought to be one of many factors influencing food acceptance, and therefore, taste may play an essential role in modulating food acceptance and/or energy intake. Emerging evidence now suggests that the sweet taste signaling mechanisms identified in the oral cavity also operate in the gastrointestinal system and may influence the development of satiety. Understanding the individual differences in detecting sweetness in both the oral and gastrointestinal system towards both caloric sugar and high intensity sweetener and the functional role of the sweet taste system may be important in understanding the reasons for excess energy intake. This review will summarize evidence of possible associations between the sweet taste mechanisms within the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and the brain systems towards both caloric sugar and high intensity sweetener and sweet taste function, which may influence satiation, satiety and, perhaps, predisposition to being overweight and obesity.     

The Influence of Age and Oral Health on Taste Perception in Older Adults: A Case-Control Study

Declining gustatory function, nutrition, and oral health are important elements of health in older adults that can affect the aging process. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of age and oral status on taste discrimination in two different groups of elderly subjects living either in an Italian residential institution (TG) or in the community (CG). A total of 90 subjects were enrolled in the study (58 CG vs. 32 TG). Masticatory performance (MP) was assessed using the two-color mixing ability test. Taste function was evaluated using cotton pads soaked with six taste stimuli (salty, acid, sweet, bitter, fat and water). A positive correlation between age and missing teeth (r = 0.51, C.I. [0.33; 0.65], p < 0.0001), and a negative correlation between age and MP (r = −0.39, C.I. [−0.56; −0.20], p < 0.001) were found. Moreover, significant differences for salty taste, between TG and CG were detected (p < 0.05). Significant differences in bitter taste sensitivity between subjects wearing removable and non-removable prosthesis were also determined (p < 0.05). In addition, significant gender differences and between males in TG and CG were identified (p < 0.05). The best understanding of the relationship between MP, taste sensitivity, and nutritional factors is a necessary criterion for the development of new therapeutic strategies to address more effectively the problems associated with malnutrition in elderly subjects.     

TAS1R3 and TAS2R38 Polymorphisms Affect Sweet Taste Perception: An Observational Study on Healthy and Obese Subjects

Background: The inter-individual differences in taste perception find a possible rationale in genetic variations. We verified whether the presence of four different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding for bitter (TAS2R38; 145G > C; 785T > C) and sweet (TAS1R3; −1572C > T; −1266C > T) taste receptors influenced the recognition of the basic tastes. Furthermore, we tested if the allelic distribution of such SNPs varied according to BMI and whether the associations between SNPs and taste recognition were influenced by the presence of overweight/obesity. Methods: DNA of 85 overweight/obese patients and 57 normal weight volunteers was used to investigate the SNPs. For the taste test, filter paper strips were applied. Each of the basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter) plus pure rapeseed oil, and water were tested. Results: Individuals carrying the AV/AV diplotype of the TAS2R38 gene (A49P G/G and V262 T/T) were less sensitive to sweet taste recognition. These alterations remained significant after adjustment for gender and BMI. Moreover, a significant decrease in overall taste recognition associated with BMI and age was found. There was no significant difference in allelic distribution for the investigated polymorphisms between normal and overweight/obese patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that overall taste recognition depends on age and BMI. In the total population, the inter-individual ability to identify the sweet taste at different concentrations was related to the presence of at least one genetic variant for the bitter receptor gene but not to the BMI.     

Patterns of Sweet Taste Liking: A Pilot Study

Two distinct patterns of sweet taste liking have been described: one showing a peak liking response in the mid-range of sucrose concentrations and the other showing a monotonic liking response at progressively higher sucrose concentrations. Classification of these patterns has been somewhat arbitrary. In this report, we analyzed patterns of sweet taste liking in a pilot study with 26 adults including 14 women and 12 men, 32.6 ± 14.5 years of age with body mass index 26.4 ± 5.1 kg/m² (mean ± SD). Sweet taste liking was measured for 10 levels of sucrose solutions (0.035 M to 1.346 M). Participants rated their liking of each solution using a visual analog scale with 0 indicating strongly disliking and 100 strongly liking. The cluster analysis demonstrated two distinct groups: 13 liked relatively low sucrose concentrations and liked high sucrose concentrations less, and 13 liked high sucrose concentrations greatly. If we use the 0.598 M sucrose solution alone and a cutoff liking score of 50, we can distinguish the two clusters with high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%). If validated in additional studies, this simple tool may help us to better understand eating behaviors and the impact of sweet taste liking on nutrition-related disorders.     

家庭群组式孕期保健模式对妊娠结局的影响

目的 探究家庭群组式孕期保健模式对妊娠结局的影响。方法 选取2018年10月—2019年10月在我院建档且规律产检的70例产妇,依据随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组各组35例。对照组给予传统保健,观察组采用家庭群组式孕期保健模式。观察两组孕妇的妊娠结局、母乳喂养情况以及心理状态。结果 观察组阴道分娩率、新生儿1 min Apgar评分显著高于对照组,剖宫产率、孕妇产后2 h出血量显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组孕妇产后第1天、第7天、6个月母乳喂养率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P <0.05）。干预前,两组孕妇SAS评分及SDS评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P> 0.05）;干预后,两组评分均降低,且观察组显著低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。结论 家庭群组式孕期保健模式通过整个家庭的参与,使孕妇获得了医务人员、家属、同伴的全面支持,能够有效改善妊娠结局,促进自然分娩,提升母乳喂养率,缓解孕妇的焦虑与抑郁情绪,值得临床推广。     

民族语言对人群疟疾认知的影响

目的 从人类学角度研究云南省少数民族语言对"疟疾"一词的认知和理解,分析由此可能对疟疾防治带来的潜在影响.方法 采用医学人类学的专题性访谈进行调查.结果 全省25种少数民族,共10种少数民族还保留有对疟疾的独特词语,而含义各不相同,这种不同在一定程度上会影响其对疟疾病采取的态度和防治方法的选择.结论 应从社会文化背景角度出发,了解不同人群对疾病的认知, 探讨对病痛的体验、描述和解释,从而制定疾病应对措施.     

民族语言对人群疟疾认知的影响

目的从人类学角度研究云南省少数民族语言对“疟疾”一词的认知和理解,分析由此可能对疟疾防治带来的潜在影响。方法采用医学人类学的专题性访谈进行调查。结果全省25种少数民族,共10种少数民族还保留有对疟疾的独特词语,而含义各不相同,这种不同在一定程度上会影响其对疟疾病采取的态度和防治方法的选择。结论应从社会文化背景角度出发,了解不同人群对疾病的认知,探讨对病痛的体验、描述和解释,从而制定疾病应对措施。     

妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症对围产儿预后的影响

目的探讨妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症(Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy,ICP)对围产儿预后的影响。方法收集ICP产妇30例为ICP组,48例正常产妇为对照组,比较两组间胎儿窘迫、羊水粪染、新生儿窒息、早产的发生率。结果胎儿窘迫、羊水粪染、新生儿窒息、早产的发生率ICP组分别为43.33%、26.67%、10.00%、26.67%,对照组分别为6.25%、4.17%、2.08%、4.17%,2组比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论ICP可导致胎儿窘迫、羊水胎粪污染、新生儿窒息、早产。     

妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症对围产儿预后的影响

目的探讨妊娠期肝内胆汁淤积症（Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy,ICP）对围产儿预后的影响。方法收集ICP产妇30例为ICP组,48例正常产妇为对照组,比较两组阀胎儿窘迫、羊水粪染、新生儿窒息、早产的发生率。结果胎儿窘迫、羊水粪染、新生儿窒息、早产的发生率ICP组分别为43．33％、26．67％、10．00％、26．67％,对照组分别为6．25％、4．17％、2．08％、4．17％,2组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论ICP可导致胎儿窘迫、羊水胎粪污染、新生儿窒息、早产。     

The Influence of Parental Communication and Perception of Peers on Adolescent Sexual Behavior

The authors used the theory of planned behavior to examine the influence of parents and peers on early adolescent sexual attitudes, self-efficacy to limit sexual behavior, and behavioral intentions to have vaginal intercourse. Adolescents (N = 212) provided self-reports of their perception of parent and peer attitudes regarding sexual behavior. The authors used bivariate and regression analyses to examine the relation between parent and peer attitudes with adolescent sexual attitudes, self-efficacy to limit sexual behavior, and behavioral intentions to have vaginal intercourse. Although there were gender differences, the analyses revealed the importance of both parents and peers on adolescent sexual attitudes, self-efficacy to limit sexual behavior, and intentions to have vaginal sex in the next year.