Effect of physiological factors, pathologies, and acquired habits on the sweet taste threshold: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sweet taste perception is a key factor in the establishment of the food pattern with nonstatic thresholds. Indeed, taste sensitivity can be influenced by physiological factors (age and sex), pathologies (obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus), and acquired habits (tobacco and alcohol consumption). In order to elucidate how these variables influence the sucrose detection threshold (DT) and recognition threshold (RT), a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the relevant literature were performed. After a comprehensive search in the PubMed and Scopus databases, a total of 48 studies were qualitatively considered, and 44 were meta‐analyzed. The factors of aging (standard mean difference [SMD]: −0.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.74 to −0.19; I2: 73%; Tau2: 0.18) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (SMD: 0.30; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.55; I2: 0%; Tau2: 0.00) were found to significantly increase the sucrose RT, whereas the DT only increased in subjects with a higher body mass index (SMD: 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.82; I2: 0%; Tau2: 0.00). No effects of sex and tobacco smoking were found, and associations with alcohol consumption could not be assessed, as it was included as a variable in only one study. Feasible mechanisms underlying changes in sucrose thresholds include the modulation of hormones involved in energy and body weight homeostasis, taste bud abundance, taste brain signaling, and the gut-brain axis. The present work provides insights into the variables that should be considered when assessing sweet taste sensitivity, discusses the mechanisms underlying differences in sweet taste, and highlights the need for further research in the field of personalized nutrition

Association of phenylthiocarbamide perception with anthropometric variables and intake and liking for bitter vegetables

Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) sensitivity, a sensory trait mediated by the bitter taste receptor 38 (TAS2R38), has been described as a promising biomarker of health status or disease risk. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the influence of PTC phenotypes on (1) individual anthropometric and clinical history variables; (2) other basic taste recognition thresholds (RTs), and (3) the hedonic perception and habitual intake of Brassicaceae vegetables in a young adult population (18.9 ± 1.7 years old). The PTC phenotype was determined by the quantitative measure of the PTC recognition threshold (non-tasters, 24.1%; tasters, 52.3%; and super tasters, 23.6%). No significant differences in smoking habits, oral and nasal disorders, family antecedents of diseases related to metabolic syndrome, and Brassicaceae vegetable hedonic perception and consumption were found between the PTC phenotype groups. The average BMI of super-taster females and males was significantly lower compared to non-tasters. In addition, the PTC taster status was a predictor of lower scores for other basic taste RTs. Overall, the defined PTC super-taster cohort could be differentiated from the non-tasters by variables related to weight control such as BMI and sucrose RT

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women: Results of a pilot parallel clinical trial

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to an increase in bone fragility and the risk of fractures. A well-known risk factor for bone loss is postmenopausal status. Beer may have a protective effect against osteoporosis associated with its content of silicon, polyphenols, iso-α-acids and ethanol, and its moderate consumption may therefore help to reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. Methods: Accordingly, a 2-year controlled clinical intervention study was conducted to evaluate if a moderate daily intake of beer with (AB) or without alcohol (NAB) could have beneficial effects on bone tissue. A total of 31 postmenopausal women were assigned to three study groups: 15 were administered AB (330 mL/day) and six, NAB (660 mL/day), whereas, the 10 in the control group refrained from consuming alcohol, NAB, and hop-related products. At baseline and subsequent assessment visits, samples of plasma and urine were taken to analyze biochemical parameters, and data on medical history, diet, and exercise were collected. BMD and the trabecular bone score (TBS) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Markers of bone formation (bone alkaline phosphatase [BAP] and N-propeptide of type I collagen [PINP]) and bone resorption (N-telopeptide of type I collagen [NTX] and C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX]) were determined annually. Results: Bone formation markers had increased in the AB and NAB groups compared to the control after the 2-year intervention. However, the evolution of BMD and TBS did not differ among the three groups throughout the study period. Discussion: Therefore, according to the findings of this pilot study, moderate beer intake does not seem to have a protective effect against bone loss in early post-menopausal women

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women

The main aim of this 2-year non-randomized parallel controlled clinical pilot trial was to evaluate the long-termeffect of a moderate daily intake of beer (with and without alcohol) on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women. A totalof 34 participants were grouped into three study arms: 16 were administered alcoholic beer, 6 consumed non-alcoholic beer,and 12 were in the control group. Changes in glucose metabolism, lipid profile, liver enzymes, anthropometric measurements,body composition, and blood pressure variables were monitored. Data on medical history, diet, and exercise were collected,and gustatory capacities were determined.RESULTS: Moderate consumption of beer, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, seemed to have positive effects on biochemicalindicators of cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women, with 660 mL day−1of non-alcoholic beer reducing low-densitylipoprotein cholesterol blood levels, and 330 mL day−1of alcoholic beer increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Theevolution of changes in android and gynoid fat percentage and their ratio differed significantly between study groups, whichwas attributable to either the interventions or the disparity between groups regarding the time elapsed since menopauseonset. Iso-⊍-acids recognition threshold could be involved in intervention group election, whereas the sensory phenotypesstudied were not associated with alcohol drinking frequency.CONCLUSIONS: Moderate beer consumption was found to improve the lipid profile of postmenopausal women, although theireffects in preventing cardiometabolic alterations deserve further research (trial registration number: ISRCTN13825020;https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13825020

Effects of the Non-Alcoholic Fraction of Beer on Abdominal Fat, Osteoporosis, and Body Hydration in Women

Abstract: Several studies have shown that binge drinking of alcoholic beverages leads to non-desirable outcomes, which have become a serious threat to public health. However, the bioactive compounds in some alcohol-containing beverages might mitigate the negative effects of alcohol. In beer, the variety and concentration of bioactive compounds in the non-alcoholic fraction suggests that its consumption at moderate levels may not only be harmless but could also positively contribute to an improvement of certain physiological states and be also useful in the prevention of different chronic diseases. The present review focuses on the effects of non-alcoholic components of beer on abdominal fat, osteoporosis, and body hydration in women, conditions selected for their relevance to health and aging. Although beer drinking is commonly believed to cause abdominal fat deposition, the available literature indicates this outcome is inconsistent in women. Additionally, the non-alcoholic beer fraction might improve bone health in postmenopausal women, and the effects of beer on body hydration, although still unconfirmed seem promising. Most of the health benefits of beer are due to its bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, which are the most studied. As alcohol-free beer also contains these compounds, it may well offer a healthy alternative to beer consumers. Keywords: hops; malt; health; menopause; polyphenol; phytoestrogen; prenylnarigenin; humulones; ethanol; bioactive

Moderate Consumption of Beer (with and without Ethanol) and Menopausal Symptoms: Results from a Parallel Clinical Trial in Postmenopausal Women

The menopausal transition can be a challenging period for women's health and a trigger of uncomfortable symptoms. Beer is the main food source of isoxanthohumol, a precursor of 8-prenylnaringenin, the strongest phytoestrogen identified to date. As phytoestrogens are reported to reduce perimenopausal symptoms, we evaluated if a daily moderate consumption of beer with (AB) and without alcohol (NAB) could improve menopausal symptoms and modify cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 37 postmenopausal women were enrolled in a parallel controlled intervention trial and assigned to three study groups: 16 were administered AB (330 mL/day), 7 NAB (660 mL/day), and 14 were in the control group. After a 6-month follow-up of the 34 participants who finished the trial, both interventions (AB and NAB) significantly reduced the severity of the menopause-related symptoms (p-value AB vs. Control: 0.009; p-value NAB vs. Control: 0.033). Moreover, AB had a beneficial net effect on psychological menopausal discomforts compared to the control group. As the sex hormone profile did not differ significantly between the study groups, the effects of both types of beers (AB and NAB) are attributed to the non-alcoholic fraction of beer. Furthermore, moderate NAB consumption improved the lipid profile and decreased blood pressure in postmenopausal women. View Full-Text Keywords: phytoestrogens; prenylflavonoids; polyphenols; health; menopause; alcohol; cardiovascular risk factor

Effect of moderate beer consumption on post-menopausal women's health. New insights towards more comprehensive nutritional research and a personalitzed nutrition perspective

[eng] Beer is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world and has been crafted for many years, while the enhancement of post-menopausal women’s health through the bioactive compounds of this beverage needs a more comprehensive approach. Therefore, the present dissertation aims to study the effects of moderate daily beer consumption on post-menopausal women’s health, integrating new promising nutrition research approaches and supporting the view of personalized nutrition. To achieve this aim, a parallel controlled clinical trial was carried out and changes in menopausal symptoms and sex-hormone profile were evaluated at 6 months of intervention. Furthermore, its effects on bone tissue and cardiovascular health were evaluated at 2- years of follow-up. Results suggest that moderate daily beer (with and without ethanol) consumption could be a promising and safe strategy to optimize early post-menopausal women’s quality of life and minimize the cardiometabolic alterations related to the onset of menopause, but not to improve bone health. Additionally, the inter-individual variability of taste sensitivity was studied in a young-aged population and across the overmentioned study cohort. Findings bring new insights into the physiological implications of the gustatory function; being aging, sex, and metabolic alterations factors correlated with taste acuity. On the other hand, the extensive systematic review of the current evidence on biomarkers of alcohol intake pointed out that common biomarkers of alcohol intake, e.g., ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, fatty acid ethyl esters, and phosphatidyl ethanol, have a considerable inter-individual variance, especially at low to moderate intakes, while the current beer and wine intake biomarkers are highly promising for an accurate intake assessment of these beverages. The results of this dissertation add knowledge regarding the effect of moderate daily beer (with and without ethanol) intake on post-menopausal women’s health and encourage the scientific community to run well-designed clinical trials to prove alcoholic beverage consumption's effect on concrete health parameters and a specific study population.[cat] La cervesa és una de les begudes alcohòliques més consumides del món i la seva elaboració existeix des de fa molts anys, mentre que la millora de la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques a través dels compostos bioactius d'aquesta beguda necessita un enfocament més exhaustiu. Així doncs, la dissertació actual té com a objectiu estudiar els efectes del consum moderat i diari de cervesa en la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques, integrant nous enfocaments de recerca nutricional prometedors i donant suport a la visió de la nutrició personalitzada. Per a assolir aquest objectiu es va dur a terme un assaig clínic controlat i paral·lel i els canvis en els símptomes menopàusics i el perfil d’hormones sexuals van ser avaluats al cap de 6 mesos d’intervenció. A més, els efectes d’aquesta sobre el teixit ossi i la salut cardiovascular es van avaluar als 2 anys de seguiment. Els resultats suggereixen que el consum moderat i diari de cervesa (amb i sense etanol) podria ser una estratègia prometedora i segura per optimitzar la qualitat de vida de les dones postmenopàusiques primerenques i minimitzar les alteracions cardiometabòliques relacionades amb l'aparició de la menopausa, però no per a la millora de la salut òssia. A més, la variabilitat interindividual de la sensibilitat gustatòria va ser estudiada en una població jove i a través de la cohort d'estudi anteriorment mencionada. Els descobriments aporten noves idees sobre les implicacions fisiològiques de la funció gustativa; sent l'envelliment, el sexe i les alteracions metabòliques factors relacionats amb l'agudesa gustativa. D'altra banda, l’extensa revisió sistemàtica de l'evidència actual sobre els biomarcadors de la ingesta d'alcohol va assenyalar que els biomarcadors comuns de la ingesta d'alcohol, ex., etil glucurònid, etil sulfat, èsters d’etil d’àcids grassos i fosfatidiletanol, tenen una considerable variància interindividual, especialment entre ingestes baixes i moderades; mentre que els biomarcadors de cervesa i vi actuals són molt prometedors per a una avaluació precisa del consum d’aquestes begudes. Els resultats d'aquesta dissertació afegeixen coneixement sobre l'efecte de la ingesta moderada i diària de cervesa (amb i sense etanol) en la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques i animen a la comunitat científica a realitzar assajos clínics ben dissenyats per demostrar l'efecte del consum de begudes alcohòliques sobre paràmetres de salut concrets i en una població d'estudi específica

Effect of moderate beer consumption on post-menopausal women's health. New insights towards more comprehensive nutritional research and a personalitzed nutrition perspective

Programa de Doctorat en Alimentació i Nutrició[eng] Beer is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world and has been crafted for many years, while the enhancement of post-menopausal women’s health through the bioactive compounds of this beverage needs a more comprehensive approach. Therefore, the present dissertation aims to study the effects of moderate daily beer consumption on post-menopausal women’s health, integrating new promising nutrition research approaches and supporting the view of personalized nutrition. To achieve this aim, a parallel controlled clinical trial was carried out and changes in menopausal symptoms and sex-hormone profile were evaluated at 6 months of intervention. Furthermore, its effects on bone tissue and cardiovascular health were evaluated at 2- years of follow-up. Results suggest that moderate daily beer (with and without ethanol) consumption could be a promising and safe strategy to optimize early post-menopausal women’s quality of life and minimize the cardiometabolic alterations related to the onset of menopause, but not to improve bone health. Additionally, the inter-individual variability of taste sensitivity was studied in a young-aged population and across the overmentioned study cohort. Findings bring new insights into the physiological implications of the gustatory function; being aging, sex, and metabolic alterations factors correlated with taste acuity. On the other hand, the extensive systematic review of the current evidence on biomarkers of alcohol intake pointed out that common biomarkers of alcohol intake, e.g., ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, fatty acid ethyl esters, and phosphatidyl ethanol, have a considerable inter-individual variance, especially at low to moderate intakes, while the current beer and wine intake biomarkers are highly promising for an accurate intake assessment of these beverages. The results of this dissertation add knowledge regarding the effect of moderate daily beer (with and without ethanol) intake on post-menopausal women’s health and encourage the scientific community to run well-designed clinical trials to prove alcoholic beverage consumption's effect on concrete health parameters and a specific study population.[cat] La cervesa és una de les begudes alcohòliques més consumides del món i la seva elaboració existeix des de fa molts anys, mentre que la millora de la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques a través dels compostos bioactius d'aquesta beguda necessita un enfocament més exhaustiu. Així doncs, la dissertació actual té com a objectiu estudiar els efectes del consum moderat i diari de cervesa en la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques, integrant nous enfocaments de recerca nutricional prometedors i donant suport a la visió de la nutrició personalitzada. Per a assolir aquest objectiu es va dur a terme un assaig clínic controlat i paral·lel i els canvis en els símptomes menopàusics i el perfil d’hormones sexuals van ser avaluats al cap de 6 mesos d’intervenció. A més, els efectes d’aquesta sobre el teixit ossi i la salut cardiovascular es van avaluar als 2 anys de seguiment. Els resultats suggereixen que el consum moderat i diari de cervesa (amb i sense etanol) podria ser una estratègia prometedora i segura per optimitzar la qualitat de vida de les dones postmenopàusiques primerenques i minimitzar les alteracions cardiometabòliques relacionades amb l'aparició de la menopausa, però no per a la millora de la salut òssia. A més, la variabilitat interindividual de la sensibilitat gustatòria va ser estudiada en una població jove i a través de la cohort d'estudi anteriorment mencionada. Els descobriments aporten noves idees sobre les implicacions fisiològiques de la funció gustativa; sent l'envelliment, el sexe i les alteracions metabòliques factors relacionats amb l'agudesa gustativa. D'altra banda, l’extensa revisió sistemàtica de l'evidència actual sobre els biomarcadors de la ingesta d'alcohol va assenyalar que els biomarcadors comuns de la ingesta d'alcohol, ex., etil glucurònid, etil sulfat, èsters d’etil d’àcids grassos i fosfatidiletanol, tenen una considerable variància interindividual, especialment entre ingestes baixes i moderades; mentre que els biomarcadors de cervesa i vi actuals són molt prometedors per a una avaluació precisa del consum d’aquestes begudes. Els resultats d'aquesta dissertació afegeixen coneixement sobre l'efecte de la ingesta moderada i diària de cervesa (amb i sense etanol) en la salut de les dones postmenopàusiques i animen a la comunitat científica a realitzar assajos clínics ben dissenyats per demostrar l'efecte del consum de begudes alcohòliques sobre paràmetres de salut concrets i en una població d'estudi específica

Vegetable and fruit consumption and prognosis among cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

The number of cancer survivors is growing rapidly worldwide, especially long-term survivors. Although a healthy diet with a high vegetable and fruit consumption is a key factor in primary cancer prevention, there is a lack of specific dietary recommendations for cancer survivors, except in the case of breast cancer [World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) report]. We have therefore carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies reporting on the associations between vegetable and fruit intake with cancer recurrence and mortality and all-cause mortality in cancer patients. After a comprehensive search of PubMed and Scopus databases, the results of 28 selected articles were analyzed. A high vegetable intake before diagnosis was inversely associated with overall mortality in survivors of head and neck (HR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.87) and ovarian cancer (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.91). In ovarian cancer patients, prediagnosis fruit intake was also inversely associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.96). The evidence was insufficient for survivors of other cancers, although these associations generally tended to be protective. Therefore, more studies are needed to clarify the association between vegetable and fruit consumption and the prognosis of these different types of cancer. To date, the general recommendation to consume ≥5 servings of vegetables and fruit per day (∼400 g/d) could underestimate the needs of cancer survivors, particularly those with ovarian tumors, in which the recommendation could increase to ∼600 g/d (i.e., 300 g/d of vegetables and 300 g/d of fruit)

Biomarkers of moderate alcohol intake and alcoholic beverages : A systematic literature review

The predominant source of alcohol in the diet is alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, spirits and liquors, sweet wine, and ciders. Self-reported alcohol intakes are likely to be influenced by measurement error, thus affecting the accuracy and precision of currently established epidemiological associations between alcohol itself, alcoholic beverage consumption, and health or disease. Therefore, a more objective assessment of alcohol intake would be very valuable, which may be established through biomarkers of food intake (BFIs). Several direct and indirect alcohol intake biomarkers have been proposed in forensic and clinical contexts to assess recent or longer-term intakes. Protocols for performing systematic reviews in this field, as well as for assessing the validity of candidate BFIs, have been developed within the Food Biomarker Alliance (FoodBAll) project. The aim of this systematic review is to list and validate biomarkers of ethanol intake per se excluding markers of abuse, but including biomarkers related to common categories of alcoholic beverages. Validation of the proposed candidate biomarker(s) for alcohol itself and for each alcoholic beverage was done according to the published guideline for biomarker reviews. In conclusion, common biomarkers of alcohol intake, e.g., as ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, fatty acid ethyl esters, and phosphatidyl ethanol, show considerable inter-individual response, especially at low to moderate intakes, and need further development and improved validation, while BFIs for beer and wine are highly promising and may help in more accurate intake assessments for these specific beverages