• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.531-541
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine factors affecting detection threshold and the optimally-preferred concentration for sweet taste, since investigation into factors decreasing sensitivity or increasing preference for sweet taste is important to prevent overconsumption of simple sugar. Subjects were 70 first-grade middle school students in the Gyeonggi-Do. The detection threshold concentration of sucrose solution and the optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly were determined by sensory evaluation. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the information regarding health-related lifestyle practices, dietary habits, preference for and eating frequency of Westernized foods and frequencies of eating foods other than home-made. The detection threshold concentration of sucrose solution and the optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly of the subjects were 0.204% and 14.44%, respectively. Subjects who exercise less (< 30 minutes/week except PE class), skipping meals (${\geq}$ 3/week), type of breakfast rather than traditional Korean meal and frequent eating out and buying foods from school tuck-shop tended to have higher sweet taste threshold. There was significant positive correlation between the sucrose threshold concentration and fried chicken preference or eating frequency of hamburger. Those who exercise less (< 30 minutes/week except PE class) did have significantly higher optimally-preferred sweetness of omija jelly, which tended to be higher in the subjects who had more (${\geq}$ 4 out of 10) behavioral or psychological stress symptoms and who had early getting-up time (before 7 am). There was significant positive correlations between the optimally-preferred sweetness of omija jelly and pizza preference, instant noodle eating frequency or sum of eating frequencies of five fast foods. From the results of this study, it was suggested that middle school students should make efforts to stop skipping meals, exercise more, eat Korean traditional breakfast and reduce the frequencies of eating out and using instant/fast foods in order to prevent overconsumption simple sugar.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2006

Sensory factors are important determinants of appetite and food choices but little is known about factors affecting taste acuity and preference of Koreans. Any factors causing deficits in sweet taste perception may lead to over consumption of simple sugar, which is related to several chronic diseases. This study was conducted to determine factors affecting sweet taste sensitivity and preference. Subjects were 30 government employees who were serving as school dietitians or in the area of public health while they were studying in the program for the qualification to become nutrition teachers. Sweet taste threshold and the optimally-preferred sweetness of omija jelly were determined by a sensory evaluation and general characteristics, health-related lifestyles, dietary habits and food preferences were determined using a self-administered questionnaire. For the subjects of this study, detection threshold concentration of sucrose solution was $0.184{\pm}0.06%$ and optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly was $13.88{\pm}2.28%$ and there was no significant correlation between the sweet taste sensitivity and preference. Subjects who had higher(${\ge}4$ out of 10) physical or psychological stress and who had late getting-up time (after 7am) tended to have lower sweet taste threshold (higher sensitivity) than their counterpart. The sweet taste preference determined by optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly tended to be lower in the subjects who eat slowly. Those who answered in the questionnaire to prefer sweet foods did have significantly higher optimally-preferred sucrose concentration of omija jelly. Further research is required to determine whether decreased sensitivity and increased preference for sweetness can increase the actual intake of simple sugar. (J Community Nutrition 8(2): 107 -113, 2006)

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.780-787
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• 2017

The consumption of high-salt foods is an independent risk factor for increased hypertension. Thus, evaluating the relationship of taste sensitivity and pleasantness of high-salt foods such as Korean jang products, would help contribute to an understanding of salty food eating behaviors of the Korean rural elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between taste sensitivity and salinity of Korean jang products, and the preferences of food groups and nutrient intake in the rural elderly. We studied 269 elderly persons (males 83, females 186) aged above 65 years, residing in the rural area, Sunchang gun Jeonbuk. For each subject, a recognition threshold of 4 basic tastes and pleasant concentrations of NaCl were estimated using the sip- and-spit method. Taste preferences, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, and salinity and sweetness of Korean jang products (Doenjang, Ganjang, Gochujang) were assessed. No association was found between salt taste recognition threshold and optimally preferred concentration of salt and salinity of Korean jang products. However, the sweet taste recognition threshold was positively related to the sweetness of Korean jang products. Also, the salinity of Doenjang positively correlated with the frequencies of food groups and nutrient intakes. That is to say that the sweet taste sensitivity was related to the sweetness of Korean jang products, but was not sensitive to the salty taste. The salinity of Doenjang correlated with the consumption of food and nutrient intakes. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for appropriate intervention and education to reduce the salinity of Doenjang, which is an important modifiable factor contributing to reducing sodium intake in the rural elderly.