ABSTRACT
Background: The UK population’s intake of sugar greatly exceeds recommendations [1] and this has been linked to an increased incidence of dental caries and obesity [2]. 6-npropylthiouracil (PROP) is a bitter tasting compound naturally present in foods and recent research suggests that taste sensitivity to PROP varies between individuals. However, the impact of PROP taster status (super-taster, taster or non-taster) upon dietary intakes, particularly sugars, has been poorly investigated [3]. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether dietary sugars intake differed between PROP taster status groups. Methods: 44 participants enrolled into a cross-sectional study via purposive sampling during December 2012 - February 2013. Ten participants were excluded due to exclusion criteria, ethical concerns or their withdrawal; 34 data samples were analysed. Exclusion criteria included those who had respiratory infections, diabetes, severe food allergies, ageusia, anosmia (including where caused by medication), been fitted with electronic implantable devices, were pregnant/lactating, suffered from an eating disorder, or ate/smoked/drank in the 2 hours prior to testing. PROP taster status was measured using the three-sample PROP/NaCl suprathres hold-scaling protocol and the general Labelled Magnitude Scale. Dietary sugars intake was assessed using an adapted USDA five-step multiple-pass 24-hour recall technique and analysed using Microdiet dietary assessment software. Data was analysed using all data sets (AD) and then with under-reporters (according to the proxy BMR:EI< 1.1) and miscalculated intakes (i.e. unreliable data) excluded (UDE). Relationships between total sugars intake (grams/day and as a percentage of total daily energy (%TDE)) and PROP taster status were statistically analysed using Shapiro-Wilk normality tests and one-way ANOVAs. Ethical approval was granted by the University of Chester ethics committee. Results: The 34 participants who completed this study were mostly Caucasian (n= 31), female (n= 27), healthy weight (n= 25) and degree-educated (n= 21), with a median age of 23 years, and were classified as super-tasters (n= 20), tasters (n= 6), or non-tasters (n= 8). Data variability was highest within the super-taster group for both sugars as grams/day (166.5 ± 131.9 AD; 193.2 ± 198.7 UDE) and %TDE (25 ± 9.8 AD; 22.7 ± 12.3 UDE), and lowest within the non-taster group (127.7 ± 39.4 AD; 149 ± 17.6 UDE) and taster group (24.8 ± 9.2 AD; 20 ± 0.3 UDE) for sugars as grams/day and %TDE respectively. Sugars intake (grams/day) tended to be highest within the super-taster group, and lowest within the taster group, showing a reverse J-shaped relationship amongst both data sets. This trend however, was not statistically significant (p = 0.288 AD; p = 0.641 UDE). Intake of sugars (%TDE) varied much more between data sets and PROP taster status groups and there were no clear relationships (p = 0.911 AD; p = 0.862 with UDE). Discussion: This study found no relationship between PROP taster status and dietary sugars intake, however a number of factors may explain this. These include: the variability in classifying PROP taster status between studies, the low participant sample, and possible confounding variables e.g. the ‘adventurous’ or ‘non-adventurous’ nature of super-tasters, other dietary intakes etc. This study supports findings of similar studies in this area and it is proposed future investigations should recruit a wider range and greater number of participants, limit potential confounding variables and all classify PROP taster status using the same method. Conclusion: Initial findings do not support a relationship between PROP taster status and dietary intake of sugars; at this stage PROP taster status cannot be used to predict sugars consumption.
ABSTRACT
Background: 6‑n‑propylthiouracil (PROP) is one of the widely used anti‑hyperthyroid drug used for the treatment of grave’s disease. A medicated tool despite being non‑invasive, economical and giving reliable results presented with some difficulties, which became prevalent in our subsequent studies, thus prompting us to formulate a new method for predicting oral health status and diseases like diabetes occurring in India. Aim and Objectives: The current paper would be focusing on the new biological marker‑Hormonal Fingerprint that is under trial to predict children for their caries risk susceptibility. Materials and Methods: A total of 250 children were selected of age group 6‑16 years and PROP sensitivity test was carried out by placing a strip on the dorsal surface of the subject tongue. The hormonal fingerprint was made by measuring the length ratio of the index and ring finger with the help of digital vernier caliper. Statistical Analysis Used: The statistical method employed to compute the results were Pearson’s Chi‑square test and analysis of variance. Results: Overall results suggested positive correlation between low second‑to‑fourth digit ratio(2D:4D), i.e. high prenatal androgen levels and high caries index in an Indian population. Conclusion: The research confirms the impact of hormones on human perception of taste and dietary preferences, which in turn influence their caries index and could also extend way beyond it.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Genetic factor to bitter taste perception appears to be largely mediated by the TAS2R38 gene. The insensitivity to bitter compounds like 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is mediated by this gene. PROP, a pharmacological drug used in treatment of Graves’ disease, proved to be useful tool in determining the genetic sensitivity levels to bitter and sweet taste. The purpose of this study is to show much simpler PROP sensitivity technique for the clinical examiner and its application as a diagnostic aid in Early Childhood Caries (ECC) detection among preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 119 children belonging to the age group of 36 to 71 months of both sexes, were recruited from A. J. Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore (Karnataka). PROP sensitivity test was carried out to determine the inherent genetic ability to taste a bitter or sweet substance. This study used simpler scaling method to find out genetic sensitivity to bitter taste; one who tasted bitter as taster and one who was not able to differentiate/tasted like paper as non-taster. A questionnaire was provided to evaluate their dietary habits and caries experience was recorded. Collected data were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In the total of 119 children the mean dmfs was definitely higher in non-taster children compared to tasters. The tasters had a mean dmfs value of 9.5120 (S.D. 7.0543) and non-tasters had a value of 7.7250 (S.D. 8.33147), which was statistically significant. The results suggested that there was increase in caries experience 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 bad dentition as compared to non tasters. CONCLUSION: The PROP sensitivity test (filter paper test) proved to be a useful diagnostic tool in determining the genetic sensitivity levels of bitter taste. The knowledge of a child's taste perception can help us in identifying the children who are at higher risk for ECC.