title: Dietary fat restriction increases fat taste sensitivity in people with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Individuals with obesity may be less sensitive to the taste of fat, and it is hypothesized that this is due to excess dietary fat intake. This study assessed the effect of a 6-week low-fat (LF) or portion control (PC) diet matched for weight loss on fat taste thresholds, fat perception, and preference in people with overweight/obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 53) completed a randomized dietary intervention and consumed either a LF diet (25% fat) or PC diet (33% fat) for 6 weeks. Fat taste thresholds (lowest detectable fat concentration), fat perception (discrimination ability), preference, and anthropometry were assessed at baseline and week 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of a LF diet (n = 26) and PC diet (n = 27) reduced participants' weight (P < 0.001), with no significant differences between groups (LF, -2.9%, PC, -2.7%). Both diets resulted in a decrease in fat taste thresholds (P = 0.014), and the effect tended to be stronger in the LF diet vs. the PC diet (P = 0.060). The ability to perceive different fat concentrations in foods was increased after the LF diet only (P = 0.017); however, food preference did not change on either diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A PC and LF diet both increase fat taste sensitivity in people with overweight/obesity, with the strongest effect after the LF diet.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Sensory Science, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Sensory Science, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Dieuwerke P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Bolhuis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Sensory Science, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Russell S J
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Keast
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000379:methods; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy; D013649:Taste; D055697:Taste Perception
references.citation: J Am Diet Assoc. 1990 Jun;90(6):810-3
references.pmid: 2345253
references.citation: Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1998 Nov 30;855:165-8
references.pmid: 9929599
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 2005 Dec 15;86(5):614-22
references.pmid: 16225895
references.citation: Arch Intern Med. 2007 Jun 25;167(12):1277-83
references.pmid: 17592101
references.citation: Annu Rev Nutr. 2007;27:389-414
references.pmid: 17444812
references.citation: Chem Senses. 2009 Jun;34(5):415-23
references.pmid: 19357229
references.citation: Br J Nutr. 2010 Jul;104(1):145-52
references.pmid: 20196892
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Apr;93(4):703-11
references.pmid: 21310831
references.citation: Appetite. 2011 Aug;57(1):295-8
references.pmid: 21316411
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 2011 Sep 26;104(4):613-20
references.pmid: 21596051
references.citation: Lancet. 2011 Aug 27;378(9793):804-14
references.pmid: 21872749
references.citation: Nutr Clin Pract. 2011 Oct;26(5):512-25
references.pmid: 21947634
references.citation: Physiol Behav. 2011 Nov 30;105(1):27-35
references.pmid: 21324328
references.citation: Clin Nutr. 2011 Dec;30(6):838-44
references.pmid: 21757270
references.citation: Int J Obes (Lond). 2012 Jun;36(6):834-42
references.pmid: 21829156
references.citation: Chem Senses. 2013 May;38(4):325-32
references.pmid: 23377369
references.citation: J Vis Exp. 2014;(88). doi: 10.3791/51236
references.pmid: 24961177
references.citation: Appetite. 2014 Sep;80:1-6
references.pmid: 24787499