title: Fruit consumption of boys (8--11 years) is related to preferences for sour taste.
abstract: The present study investigated whether the most preferred balance between sweet and sour taste of children (n=50, 9.2+/-0.9 yrs of age) are related to their consumption of fruit. Taste preferences were measured with a rank-by-elimination procedure with seven sweet orangeades that differed in added citric acid (i.e. 0.009-0.065 M). Fruit consumption was assessed with a questionnaire that was completed by the children's parents. Results showed that boys' but not girls' most preferred balance between sweet and sour taste was positively correlated with their consumption of fruit: that is, the more added citric acid was preferred the more fruit was consumed. We conclude that preference for high concentrations of citric acid in a sweet context may be associated with the consumption of fruit in boys. In girls, the optimal balance between sweet and sour taste seems to be of less importance; their consumption of fruit may be more influenced by their parents, availability and health related motives.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen Taste & Smell Centre, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Djin Gie
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Rik P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: Pieter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dagnelie
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Graaf
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology*; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019343:Citric Acid