Sweet taste sensitivity among pregnant women at different stages of pregnancy

Talita Batista Matos; Sheila Silva Cunha; Christini Gomes Senhorinho Ferreira; Jamille Marinho Brazil; Jociéli Moura dos Santos Braga; Luciana Amaral de Faria; Maria Patrícia Milagres

doi:10.36517/2175-6783.20262796084

Autores/as

Talita Matos Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1554-5826
Sheila Silva Cunha Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8172-4730
Christini Gomes Senhorinho Ferreira Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5962-6380
Jamille Marinho Brazil Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8391-4056
Jociéli Moura dos Santos Braga Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0647-8908
Luciana Amaral de Faria Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9470-9181
Maria Patrícia Milagres Universidad Estatal del Sudoeste de Bahía https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4845-5624

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36517/2175-6783.20262796084

Palabras clave:

Taste Threshold; Pregnancy; Taste Disorders.

Resumen

Objective: to investigate sweet taste detection thresholds in pregnant women at different gestational periods. Methods: this cross-sectional, analytical and epidemiological study was conducted at Family Health Units. We included 109 pregnant women aged 18 years or older, in any trimester of pregnancy. The sweet taste detection threshold was assessed in a whole-mouth taste test. Participants also completed a structured questionnaire on personal, demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, and their weight and height were measured. Results: the average threshold values studied were 2.83 g/L in the first and second trimesters and 1.41 g/L in the third trimester, remaining stable across gestational periods. Sweet taste detection thresholds differed according to household arrangement: pregnant women living alone or with friends had a significantly higher threshold index, indicating lower sweet taste sensitivity. Conclusion: the sweet taste detection threshold remained stable throughout pregnancy, and household arrangement may influence sweet taste sensitivity. Contributions to practice: identifying altered sweet taste sensitivity throughout pregnancy can inform interventions to promote healthy eating behaviors.

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