학술논문

Umami detection threshold among children of different ethnicities and its correlation with various indices of obesity and blood pressure
Document Type
article
Source
Current Research in Food Science, Vol 5, Iss , Pp 2204-2210 (2022)
Subject
Children
Ethnicity
Glutamate
Obesity
Taste threshold
Umami
Nutrition. Foods and food supply
TX341-641
Food processing and manufacture
TP368-456
Language
English
ISSN
2665-9271
Abstract
Sensitivity to savory taste has been linked to high consumption of savory foods and increased risks of obesity and hypertension. However, there are limited studies that investigate whether obesity indices are correlated with the differences in umami taste perception, particularly in children. This study aimed to investigate the umami detection threshold among children of different ethnicities and the threshold's correlation with obesity indices and blood pressure. A total of 140 subjects were recruited and consisted of a nearly equal distribution of children from three main ethnicities (37.2% Malays, 31.4% Chinese, 31.4% Indians). Umami detection threshold was measured using the two-alternative, forced-choice staircase procedure. Body weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure of children were measured. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Mean umami detection threshold was 1.22 ± 1.04 mM and there were no observable differences attributable to the subjects' ethnicities. Body fat percentage was negatively correlated (r = −0.171, p