Taste perception and oral microbiota are associated with obesity in children and adolescents

Abstract

Obesity in childhood and adolescence is considered the most prevalent nutritional disorder, in which eating behaviours represent one important factors of influence. Many aspects influence eating behaviours, but taste is considered the main predictor. However, data concerning correlations of obesity, taste sensitivity and behavioural attitudes, such as food neophobia, in children and adolescents are inconsistent. Moreover, it has been suggested that oral bacteria could have a possible role in obesity development and, also, in taste perception. In this context, the present study focused on host related factors with a proposed link to weight gain. To this purpose, taste sensitivity, salivary microbiota composition and food neophobia were compared between children and adolescents with and without obesity in a cross-sectional study. Results showed that children with obesity presented a significantly lower ability in correctly identifying taste qualities and were characterized by a lesser number of Fungiform Papillae (reported as FP/cm2) compared to normal-weight subjects. Differences in the ecological indexes of microbial alpha-diversity was found between subjects with obesity and normal-weight ones. Moreover, independently from nutritional status, some bacterial genera seemed to differ between subjects with different sensitivity. The potentiality of this multidisciplinary approach could help to better understand and deepen the sensory-driven and microbiological factors related to weight gain.

Fig 1. Association between Food neophobia and Fungiform Papillae density.

Regression line representing the association between Food neophobia and FP density in the whole sample.

Fig 2. α-diversity (observed species) of the saliva microbiota composition.

Box-plots representing the α-diversity (observed species) of the saliva microbiota composition in case and control groups through Chao index.

Fig 3. Distribution of the salivary microbiota at the phylum level.

Dot chart of the distribution of the salivary microbiota at the phylum level in cases and controls.

Fig 4. Distribution of the salivary microbiota at the class level.

Dot chart of the distribution of the salivary microbiota at the class level in cases and controls.

Fig 5. Principal Component Analysis of the microbiota profile.

Principal Component Analysis of the microbiota profile in both groups (Controls in red vs Cases in blue) at a) phylum level and at b) class level.

Fig 6. Correlations between the subjects and the abundance levels of selected phyla.

Heatmap representing the correlations between the subjects and the abundance levels of selected phyla that were represented in the microbiota samples.