Abstract
Sucrose taste thresholds were determined for 98 children, five to six years old, and 213 young adults (average age 23 years). The children displayed higher mean sucrose taste threshold (47.9±19.4) mM) than young adults (13.7±6.2 mM). Significant difference was found between these two groups (p<0.001). The high thresold of the children was considered to be due to two causes: recognition as threshould of sensation (higher than threshold of judgement) and immature or dull taste sensitivity of the growing children.
The relationship between the sucrose taste threshold and the sweet food intake, or between the sucrose taste threshold and the liking of sweet was unclear. Moreover, it was thought that the sucrose taste threshold was not implicated in the dental caries experiences.
Females showed lower sucrose taste threshold than males, especially significant in adults. This is presumably caused by some physiological factors.
