Disguised protein in lunch after low-protein breakfast conditions food-flavor preferences dependent on recent lack of protein intake.
As in the conditioning of appetite for protein in the rat, human preference for and intake of a food at lunch was increased when the flavor of that food was paired with an adequate supply of protein, following a breakfast lacking in protein. Men and women rated their preferences for two flavors in tasted foods (soup and cornflour dessert) on test days before and after a day when one flavor was eaten in very low protein food and another day with a different flavor eaten in food containing protein, but with minimal sensory differences between these foods. Subjects given a low-protein drink preload preferred the protein-paired flavor, while those receiving a high-protein drink did not. In a second experiment, preferences were measured by intake as well as ratings, and the difference in amount of protein between high- and low-protein lunches was increased. By both measures, relative preference for high-protein-paired dessert flavors increased from before to after pairing. The increase in intake preference ratio for the protein-paired flavor was abolished by a high-protein preload. Thus, people have a learning mechanism whereby a lack in protein intake comes to cue the selection of protein-rich foods that are not known to be such, and/or loading with protein might trigger avoidance specifically of a high-protein diet.
Gibson
E L
EL
School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.
Wainwright
C J
CJ
Booth
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects*
D004044:Dietary Proteins