title: Consumer acceptability of low-sugar watermelon sweetened with non-calorie sweetener by a Native American community.
abstract: Watermelons are a good source of lycopene, a carotenoid that exhibits antioxidant activity and may protect against some cancers. However, intake of watermelon may be restricted for individuals who have diabetes or those who limit carbohydrate intake. A low-sugar watermelon was developed at Lane, Oklahoma using traditional plant breeding techniques. The objective of this study was to determine whether the artificially sweetened low-sugar watermelon was acceptable with Native Americans, a group with a high incidence of diabetes. The red flesh from a low-sugar watermelon and a commercial variety of watermelon was removed and cut into cubes. Low and high levels of artificial sweetener were added to the low-sugar watermelon. Students at a Native American school (Grades 1-12) and adults at a Native American Feeding Center were asked to rate how much they liked or disliked the watermelon using a seven-point hedonic scale. Sugar composition, pH, lycopene and other carotenoids were analyzed from samples using established methods. The pH, lycopene, beta-carotene and total carotenoid levels were similar among fruit. Artificially sweetened fruit were rated slightly more acceptable in taste than the commercial control watermelons by both age groups. The low-sugar watermelons were lower in sugar composition but were comparable with conventional melons in all other quality factors and were found acceptable in taste by a broad age group of Native American consumers.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, Lane, Oklahoma, USA. jcollins-usda@lane-ag.org
authors.forename: Julie K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Angela R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Arin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manness
authors.forename: Penelope M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Perkins-Veazie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D029773:Citrullus / Q000737:chemistry; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013395:Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013649:Taste / Q000502:physiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D002338:Carotenoids; D013395:Sucrose; C026285:trichlorosucrose