title: Genetic sensitivity to the bitter taste of 6-n propylthiouracil: a new risk determinant for dental caries in children.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to contrast the prevalence of dental caries in children with different genetic sensitivity levels to the bitter taste of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) and to determine the taste quality and taste intensity preferences of food products among the taster and nontaster groups. Overall caries experience (dmfs/DMFS) was significantly higher for nontasters than tasters. Caries experience on the available surfaces (dfs/DFS) was found to be significantly higher in nontasters than in medium tasters and in medium tasters than in supertasters (r=-0.41, P < 0.001). Majority of the nontasters were sweet likers and preferred strong tasting food products, while majority of the supertasters were sweet dislikers and preferred weak tastes. There was a significant increase in the overall caries experience in the population, as the genetic ability to detect PROP taste decreased ( P < 0.001). After all associated factors (age, gender, race, number of teeth and OHI-S) were controlled; multiple linear regression analyses revealed that taste was the only variable significantly related to overall caries experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Rajah Muthiah Dental College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rupesh
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Nayak
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000235:genetics*; D003817:Dentition; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013395:Sucrose / Q000737:chemistry; D013649:Taste / Q000235:genetics*; D013652:Taste Threshold / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013395:Sucrose; D011441:Propylthiouracil