The sweetness and bitterness of childhood: Insights from basic research on taste preferences

Abstract

In this article, we review findings from basic, experimental research on children that suggests the liking of sweet and the dislike of bitter tastes reflects children’s basic biology. Children are born preferring sweet tastes, which attract them to mother’s milk and even act as an analgesic. They prefer higher levels of sweet than do adults, with preferences declining to adult levels during middle to late adolescence, which coincides with the cessation of physical growth. The level of sweetness most preferred by children has remained heightened relative to adults for nearly a decade, despite reductions in sugar, both consumed and in the food environment. In spite of these reductions, however, children’s intake of sugar remains higher than that recommended by health organizations worldwide. In contrast to sweet taste, children dislike and reject bitter taste, which protects them from ingesting poisons. Although variation in bitter taste receptor genes such as TAS2R38 accounts for people’s marked differences in perceptions of the same bitter-tasting compounds, basic research revealed that these genotype-phenotype relationships are modified with age, with children of the same genotype being more bitter sensitive than adults and the changeover occurring during mid adolescence. This heightened bitter sensitivity is also evident in the taste of the foods (green vegetables) or medicines (liquid formulations of drugs) they dislike and reject. While bitter taste can be masked or blocked to varying degrees by sugars and salts, their efficacy in modulating bitterness is not only based on the type of bitter ligand but on the person’s age. Children’s heightened preference for sweet and dislike of bitter, though often detrimental in the modern food environment, reflects their basic biology. Increasing knowledge of individual variation in taste due to both age and genetics will shed light on potential strategies to promote healthier eating since chronic diseases derive in large part from poor food choice dictated by taste preferences as well as to contribute to a new era of drug formulations designed especially for the taste palate of children.

Sweet taste exposure and the subsequent acceptance and preference for sweet taste in the diet: systematic review of the published literature

“…The studies identified were also notably all undertaken in children, in whom effects of sweet taste exposure may be difficult to see against a background of strong innate liking (15), and in whom differences in dietary intakes may reflect parenting practices and household food offerings, rather than preferences for specific sensory attributes. Preferences for sweet tastes are also known to reduce with age (2,24), and therefore impacts demonstrated in childhood may not transfer to adulthood (15).…”

“…Sweet taste is innately rewarding, as characterized by a universal liking for high levels of sweetness in foods and beverages in infancy and childhood (2), and it is possible that high levels of sweetness or sustained exposures to sweet taste help maintain or even promote a generalized desire for sweet(er) foods and beverages in the wider diet. Such a generalized "sweet tooth" could make it challenging for individuals to reduce intakes of free sugars (3,4).…”

Variation in the Ability to Taste Bitter Thiourea Compounds: Implications for Food Acceptance, Dietary Intake, and Obesity Risk in Children

“…Evidence in children also indicates that sourness perception is inversely related to acceptance of sourtasting foods (32,79). For sweet and fatty taste, however, the relationship between perception and intake is more complicated and likely is an inverse U-shaped curve, where the optimally preferred concentration varies depending on age and developmental and genetic factors (93).…”

Aquisição gustativa na infância: teoria e estudos

“…O que fez os pesquisadores concluírem uma resposta positiva à estimulação umami e doce [14][15][16][17] .…”

“…Além disso, a alimentação espontânea não é estável de um dia para o outro, o equilíbrio se faz a cada dia. A criança pode ter fome mesmo após terminar a mamadeira, ou ser rapidamente saciada, o que pode causar dificuldades de identificação, pela família, da necessidade alimentar 1,16 .…”