Propylthiouracil (PROP) - A Tool to Determine Taster Status in Relation to Caries Experience, Streptococcus Mutans Levels and Dietary Preferences in Children

Abstract

Purpose: Dental caries remains the single most common disease of childhood that is neither self-limiting nor amenable to short term pharmacological management. Hence, there is a need to identify and institute preventive measures for those children who are at a greater risk for developing dental caries to determine the prevalence of tasters and non tasters among the group of school aged children. To compare and contrast the prevalence of dental caries, S.mutans levels and dietary preferences in children with different genetic sensitivity levels to the bitter taste of PROP. Method: A total no of 500 children belonging to the age group of 6-12 years of both sexes were recruited from A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences in Mangalore, India. PROP sensitivity test was carried out to determine the inherent genetic ability to taste a bitter or sweet substance. Estimation of Streptococcus mutans levels were done, a questionnaire was given to evaluate their dietary habits and the caries experience was recorded. Collected data were tabulated and subjected for statistical analysis using Pearson Chi – square test of significance. Results: The results suggested that there was increase in the caries experience and S.mutans levels among the group of non tasters as compared to tasters. Tasters tended to be sweet dislikers and non tasters tended to be sweet likers. On the whole tasters had a healthier dentition as compared to non tasters. Conclusion: The PROP test proved to be a useful tool in determining the genetic sensitivity levels of bitter taste. Knowledge of an individuals taste perception can help us in identifying the children who are at higher risk for dental caries.

Caries experience in 15‐year‐old school children in Bangalore with inherited taste sensitivity levels to 6‐n‐propylthiouracil: an observational study

“…In Lin’s study, 25 the majority of children in the study group were medium tasters (58%), followed by supertasters (31%), and non‐tasters (11%). Other studies 27,28 also show similar results. This difference in the prevalence rates of the present study from previous studies may be attributed to the fact that exact comparisons with previous studies are not feasible due to: (a) different geographic distributions; (b) different methods of PROP disk preparation; (c) different concentrations of PROP disk used; (d) age span and sex discrepancies of the participants; (d) the present study utilizing NaCl standards to help clarify borderline responses, and thus, improve the group allotment; and (e) different cut‐off scores for grouping taste statuses.…”

Genetic sensitivity to bitter taste of 6-n Propylthiouracil: A useful diagnostic aid to detect early childhood caries in pre-school children

“…[10] A child's preferences for sugar may lead to increase in dental caries and a compromised state of health. [211–13]…”

RELATIONSHIP OF PROP (6‐N‐PROPYLTHIOURACIL) TASTER STATUS WITH THE BODY MASS INDEX AND FOOD PREFERENCES OF FILIPINO ADULTS

“…2007). Additionally, children nontasters were sweet likers while supertasters were sweet dislikers, and their PROP sensitivity was linked to dental caries (Rupesh and Nayak 2006; Verma et al. 2006).…”