Elsevier

Nutrition Research

Volume 31, Issue 8, August 2011, Pages 594-600
Nutrition Research

6-n-Propylthiouracil taster status not related to reported cruciferous vegetable intake among ethnically diverse children

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2011.07.004Get rights and content

Abstract

Sensitivity to the taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) (a bitter chemical related to the phenylthiocarbamide found in cruciferous vegetables) has been related to dietary intake or preferences of cruciferous vegetables among adults and young children but not middle-aged children or adolescents. We hypothesized that PROP taste sensitivity is related to lower reported dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables, primarily among younger children (ie, a moderating effect of child age). This study examined the relationship of PROP sensitivity to reported dietary intake across 3 days in 2 age groups of youth (9-10 and 17-18 years) while statistically controlling for physical activity, social desirability, and reporting bias. Cross-sectional design was used with a multiethnic (white, African American, Hispanic, etc) sample of 843 men and women. Children were recruited from and data were collected in local elementary and high schools that had at least 30% ethnic minority enrollment. Children providing nonplausible reports of dietary intake were deleted from the analyses. Body mass index was calculated and expressed in z scores. Energy intake and physical activity were measured by 3 telephone-conducted 24-hour dietary recalls with the Nutrient Data System for Research and 5 days of Actigraph (ActiGraph, Shalimar, Florida) activity monitor. The primary analyses included 347 students. 6-n-Propylthiouracil sensitivity was not related to intake of cruciferous vegetables. Intakes of the cruciferous vegetables were low, which may explain the lack of relationship.

Introduction

6-n-Propylthiouracil (PROP) is chemically related to the bitter substance (phenylthiocarbamide) in cruciferous vegetables, and whether a person can taste PROP is genetically determined [1]. Taste sensitivity to PROP [2], [3] has been proposed to account for individual differences in food preferences and eating habits [4], [5]. Three studies have been published on the relationship of PROP taste sensitivity to reported dietary intake using food frequency questionnaires among children [6], [7], [8], all showing no relationship. Food frequency questionnaires, however, have limitations [9]. Other limitations of these studies included small sample sizes (range, 30-81 participants); limited age ranges (range, 3-6 years); no report of ethnic background of the sample; and none controlled for energy intake (EI) (ie, children who eat more calories likely consume more of most foods), physical activity (PA) (ie, children who are very active likely eat more of many foods [10]), or social desirability of response [11], all of which have been related to diet and thereby could confound the findings. Because some late adolescents develop a preference for some bitter foods (eg, coffee, alcohol), PROP taste sensitivity [1] may diminish with age.

Our hypothesis was that PROP taste sensitivity is related to lower dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables, primarily among the younger children (ie, a moderating effect of child age). This article examined whether PROP taste sensitivity was related to dietary intake using multiple 24-hour dietary recalls among children ages 9 and 10 years (elementary school age) and 17 and 18 years (high school age) while statistically controlling for EI, PA levels, social desirability, and over- or underreporting response bias.

Section snippets

Design

A cross-sectional design was used with stratification on ethnicity (white, African American, Hispanic, etc), sex (male/female), age (9-10 and 17-18 years), body mass index (BMI) status (<85th percentile and ≥85th percentile), and PROP taster status (nontaster, medium taster, and supertaster). The study was approved by the Baylor College of Medicine Institutional Review Board. The parents of all children completed informed consent, and all children provided assent.

Study sample

A total sample of 843 children

Results

Although 843 students were recruited for this stage of the study, 665 students (342 9- to 10–year-olds and 323 17- to 18-year-olds) provided complete data for the analyses, the remaining 178 students were missing data for 1 or more variables and were excluded. There were no significant differences in any characteristics between students included and excluded from the analyses. Among the 665 (52.8% women and 47.2% men) elementary (342, or 51.4%) and high school students (323, or 48.6%), 347

Discussion

The current investigation showed no evidence that PROP taster status influenced cruciferous vegetable consumption. Thus, we rejected our hypothesis. The low intake of vegetables observed in the cohort is consistent with norms in the US population where roughly 95% of children from 9 to 18 years of age do not consume the recommended amount of vegetables [33].

Because PROP is related to the bitter chemical found in cruciferous vegetables, one would expect sensitivity to the taste of PROP to be

Acknowledgment

This research was primarily funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (CA116766). This work is also a publication of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and had been funded, in part, with federal funds from the USDA/ARS under Cooperative Agreement No. 58-6250-6001. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA, nor does

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